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THE OCTOBER 2003 PRIORITY DATES
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
The priority dates for most family-based petitions
moved forward, except those for the Third Preference (married
sons and daughters of U.S. citizens), which moved backwards by
more than seven months, as shown in the monthly Visa Bulletin
for October 2003 released by the State Department.
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 three months and one week, from April 15, 1989 to July
22, 1989.
The Third Preference
Category F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens),
however, which registered the longest jump in the September 2003
listing, moved backwards or “retrogressed” by seven
months and one week, from September 15, 1988 to February
8, 1988. (Note: There is now a difference of one year and
five-and-a-half months 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 two months and two weeks, from July 8, 1981 to September
22, 1981.
The priority dates for those petitioned by green
card holders continued to move forward by at least one
month.
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 one month, from August 15, 1998 to September
15, 1998.
The Second Preference,
F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green
card holders) moved forward by almost seven weeks,
from March 15, 1995 to May 1, 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 October
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)
|
July 22, 1989
(In September 2003, the priority date was April
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
|
September
15, 1998
(In September 2003, the priority date was August 15,
1998.)
May
1, 1995
(In September 2003,
the priority date was March 15, 1995.) |
| Third Preference |
Married sons and daughters of
U.S. Citizens |
February
8, 1988
(In September 2003, the priority date was September
15, 1988.)
|
|
Fourth Preference
|
Brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens
|
September
22, 1981
(In September 2003, the priority date was July 8, 1981.)
|
| EMPLOYMENT-BASED PETITIONS
(including Labor Certification): |
| Third Preference |
Professional/Skilled Workers |
CURRENT
(In September 2003, the priority date was also current.)
|
| Other Workers |
Non-Skilled workers |
CURRENT
(In September 2003, the priority date was also current.)
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