After months of inactivity, the priority dates in the First Preference and Fourth Preference categories of the Family-Based Petitions finally moved, as shown in the April 2000 Priority Dates listed in the monthly Visa Bulletin released by the State Department.

The First Preference Category, F-1 (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, over 21 years of age), moved forward 17 days, from March 22, 1988 to April 8, 1988.

The priority date for the Fourth Preference, F-4 (brothers and sisters of United States citizens) moved forward two weeks after being stalled for five months, from July 15, 1979 to August 1, 1979.

The Second Preference, 2A (spouse and minor children ² below 21 years of age - of green card holders) of Family-Based Petitions moved forward almost six weeks, from November 22, 1995 to January 1, 1996.

The Second Preference, 2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green card holders) moved forward another three weeks, from January 1, 1993 to January 22, 1993.

The Third Preference Category F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens) of Family-Based Petitions did not move for the sixth straight month, remaining at November 15, 1987 (Note: there is now a difference of four months and three weeks in priority dates between unmarried and married adult children of U.S. Citizens (April 8, 1988 for single children versus November 15, 1987 for married children). So, single adult children of U.S. citizens may wish to seek legal advice about marrying, before they are processed for their visa or green card, since the difference in waiting time is still small and they could possibly include their spouse for a visa at the same time they are processed for their own visa. Note: children of green card holders cannot marry, or their petition is void, as green card holders can only petition unmarried children.

The priority dates for non-skilled workers category under the Employment-Based Petitions moved forward another three months, from March 1, 1994 to June 1, 1994.

The priority dates for professionals and skilled workers, EB-3 remained current. This means those who have INS-approved I-140 employment-based immigrant petitions under the Third Preference (professionals and skilled workers), may still file for adjustment of status, and be processed for green cards in the U.S., (if they are already in the U.S.). For nurses and physical therapists, INS regulations for CGFNS have been published, such that nurses and physical therapists would be eligible to adjust status or be processed for a visa.

Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes the priority dates for that particular month. This means that visas would now be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below:

The April, 2000 priority dates for the Philippines are as follows:

April 8, 1988
(In March 2000, the priority date was March 22, 1988.)

January 1, 1996
(In March 2000, the priority date was November 22, 1995.)

January 22, 1993
(In March 2000, the priority date was January 1, 1993.)

November 15, 1987
(In March 2000, the priority date was the same.)

August 1, 1979
(In March 2000, the priority date was July 15, 1979.)

Many people are concerned about the slow movement of some family-based preference categories. Others may have been petitioned by an aging or sickly parent. (Once the petitioner dies, the petition is "automatically revoked".) If you are among them, you may wish to consider other, faster ways to immigrate, such as an employment-based petition (Labor Certification), which now takes approximately 3 years to process. An employer's petition could back-up a family petition. Remember, it is legal to be petitioned in as many ways as are legitimately available to a person, all at the same time. Therefore, a person can be petitioned by a relative and an employer, at the same time!