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THE SEPTEMBER 2004 PRIORITY DATES
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
The priority date for Family Petitions under the F-3 Preference
Category (married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens) moved backwards
(retrogressed) by another 12 months and 10 days, while other family
petitions, both by U.S. citizens and green card holders, did not
move at all, as shown in the monthly Visa Bulletin for September
2004 released by the State Department.
Petitions by Citizens:
The priority date for the First
Preference Category, F-1 (unmarried sons and daughters of
U.S. citizens, over 21 years of age) did not move
forward, and remains at July
15, 1990.
The Third Preference Category
F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens)
again moved backwards by 12 months and 10 days, from September
1, 1988 to August 22, 1987.
In August 2004, the priority date for the same category moved
backwards by 18 months from March 1, 1990. (Note: There is now
a difference of 34 months in priority dates between unmarried
and married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.). This means
that visa or adjustment of status applications whose priority
dates fall after August 22, 1987 will not be processed at this
time. We hope that come October 2004, the priority dates will
finally move forward again, as October is the start of the “fiscal
year” for visas, where next year’s allotment of visas
will become available.
The Fourth Preference, F-4
(brothers and sisters of United States citizens)
also did not move forward, and remains at March
22, 1982.
Petitions by Green Card Holders:
The Second Preference, F-2A
(spouse and minor children below 21 years of age, of green card
holders) of Family-Based Petitions did not move
at all, and remained at April
15, 2000.
The Second Preference, F-2B
(unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green
card holders), also did not move, and remained
at July 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 September 2004
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 15, 1990
(In August 2004, the priority date was also
July 15, 1990.)
|
| 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
|
April
15, 2000
(In August 2004, the priority date was also April
15, 2000.)
July
1, 1995
(In August 2004, the priority date was also July 1,
1995.) |
| Third Preference |
Married sons and daughters of
U.S. Citizens |
August
22, 1987
(In August 2004, the priority date was September 1,
1988.) |
|
Fourth Preference
|
Brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens
|
March
22, 1982
(In August 2004, the priority date was also March
22, 1982.) |
| LABOR CERTIFICATION: |
| Third Preference |
Professional/Skilled Workers |
CURRENT
(In August 2004, the priority date was also current.)
|
| Other Workers |
Non-Skilled workers |
CURRENT
(In August 2004, the priority date was also current.)
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