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The priority dates of petitions by green card holders
moved forward by at least two weeks, but those of U.S. citizens
remained stationary, as shown in the December 2000 Priority
Dates listed in the monthly Visa Bulletin released by
the State Department.
The Second Preference, 2A (spouse and minor children
å below 21 years of age - of green card holders) of Family-Based
Petitions moved forward more than three weeks,
from June 22, 1996 to July 15, 1996.
The Second Preference, 2B (unmarried sons and daughters,
over 21 years of age, of green card holders) moved
forward by two weeks, from June 1 1993 to June 15, 1993.
The First Preference Category, F-1 (unmarried sons
and daughters of U.S. citizens, over 21 years of age),
was stalled anew, and remained at May 1, 1988.
The priority date for the Fourth Preference, F-4 (brothers
and sisters of United States citizens) did not move, remaining
at August 1, 1979.
The Third Preference Category F-3 (married sons and
daughters of United States citizens) of Family-Based
Petitions did not move for the l4th straight month, remaining
at November 15, 1987. (Note: there is a difference
of five months and one week in priority dates between
unmarried and married adult children of U.S. Citizens
(May 1, 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
holder parents can only petition unmarried children.)
The priority dates for non-skilled workers category
under the Employment-Based Petitions moved forward
another three months, from February 1, 1996 to May 1,
1996.
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 December, 2000 priority dates for the
Philippines are as follows:
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