Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

The priority date for the First Preference Category, F-1 (unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens, over 21 years of age) remained the same at September 1, 1993.

The Third Preference Category, F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens) priority date remained the same at July 1, 1991.

The Fourth Preference, F-4 (brothers and sisters of United States citizens) priority date moved forward by 7 days from August 1, 1986 to August 8, 1986.

The Second Preference, F-2A (Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder) moved forward by 7 days, from December 15, 2004, to December 22, 2004.

The Second Preference, F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green card holders) remained the same at April 1, 1998.

The Third Preference (professionals and skilled workers) of Employment-Based Petitions (Labor Certification) remains unavailable. The priority date for unskilled (other) workers also remains unavailable.

Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes the priority dates for that particular month. This means that visas (or green cards) would now be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was "current", but 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.