Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. This means that immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current”, but later retrogressed (or became “unavailable”) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.
The February 2012 priority dates for the Philippines are as follows:
| FAMILY CATEGORY: | Priority Date: | ||
| First Preference
| Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (over 21 years of age) | May 22, 1997 (In January 2012, the priority date was April 15, 1997.) | |
| Second Preference | 2A. Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder 2B. Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21 years old) of green card holder | June 8, 2009 (In January 2012, the priority date was April 22, 2009.)
November 1, 2001 (In January 2012, the priority date was September 1, 2001.) | |
| Third Preference | Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. | July 22, 1992 (In December 2012, the priority date was July 15, 1992.) | |
| Fourth Preference | Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. | November 1, 1988 (In January 2012, the priority date was October 8, 1988.) | |
| Labor Certification: | |||
| Third Preference | Professional/Skilled Workers | February 22, 2006 (In January 2012, the priority date was February 1, 2006.) | |
| Other workers | Non-Skilled Workers | February 22, 2006 (In January 2012, the priority date was February 1, 2006.) | |
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