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. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning 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 US), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.
The November 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) | July 1, 1997 (In October 2012, the priority date was April 1, 1996.)
|
|
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 | July 15, 2010 (In Octoberr 2012, the priority date was June 1, 2010.)
February 15, 2002 (In October 2012, the priority date was January 22, 2002.)
|
| Third Preference | Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. | July 22, 1992 (In October 2012, the priority date was the same.)
|
| Fourth Preference | Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. | March 1, 1989 (In October 2012, the priority date was February 8, 1989.) |
| Labor Certification: Second Preference
|
Advanced Degree Positions |
Current (In October 2012, the priority date was January 1, 2012.)
|
| Third Preference
Other workers Non-Skilled Workers | Professional/Skilled Workers | August 8, 2006 (In October 2012, the priority date was August 1, 2006.)
August 8, 2006 (In October 2012, the priority date was August 1, 2006.)
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