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THE AUGUST 2003 PRIORITY DATES
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
The priority dates for all petitions by U.S.
citizens in the family-based petitions began moving forward
again, as shown in the monthly Visa Bulletin for August 2003 released
by the State Department.
In the July 2003 listings, the priority dates for
all family petitions by U.S. citizens had moved backwards (retrogressed)
by as much as two years.
The priority date for the First
Preference Category, F-1 (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S.
citizens, over 21 years of age) moved forward
by one week, from March 15, 1989 to March
22, 1989.
The Third Preference
Category F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens)
moved forward by more than 11 weeks, from January 1, 1988 to March
22, 1988. (Note: There is now a difference of one year
in priority dates between unmarried and married sons and daughters
of U.S. citizens.)
The Fourth Preference,
F-4 (brothers and sisters of United States citizens)
moved forward by one month, from February 1, 1981 to March
1, 1981.
However, the priority dates for those petitioned
by green card holders continued
to move forward by at least six weeks.
The Second Preference,
F-2A (spouse and minor children below 21 years of age, of green
card holders) of Family-Based Petitions moved
forward by almost seven weeks, from May 15, 1998 to July
1, 1998.
The Second Preference,
F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green
card holders) moved forward by more than six weeks,
from December 1, 1994 to January 15,
1995.
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 August 2003
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)
|
March 22, 1989
((In July 2003, the priority date was March
15, 1989.)
|
| 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
1, 1998
(In July 2003, the priority date was May 15, 1998.)
January
15, 1995
((In July 2003, the priority date was December 1,
1994.)
|
| Third Preference |
Married sons and daughters of
U.S. Citizens |
March
22, 1988
(In July 2003, the priority date was January 1, 1988.)
|
|
Fourth Preference
|
Brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens
|
March
1, 1981
(In July 2003, the priority date was February 1, 1981.)
|
| EMPLOYMENT-BASED PETITIONS
(including Labor Certification): |
| Third Preference |
Professional/Skilled Workers |
CURRENT
(In July 2003, the priority date was also current.)
|
| Other Workers |
Non-Skilled workers |
CURRENT
(In July 2003, the priority date was also current.)
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