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THE FEBRUARY 2007 PRIORITY DATES:
Married children may retrogress in March!
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
Most Family-Based Priority dates moved forward (or advanced) in February 2007, while Employment-Based priority dates remained the same.
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 ) moved forward by 17 days, from December 15, 1991 to January 1, 1992 .
The Third Preference Category, F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens ) remained the same at February 8, 1991 . However, the State Department warned that because of high demand, and not enough supply of visas, the priority date for married children may move BACKWARDS (or retrogress) in March 2007: " Demand for numbers in the Mexico and Philippines Family Third preference category remains extremely heavy. As a result it is likely that it will be necessary to retrogress these cut-off dates for March ."
The Fourth Preference, F-4 (brothers and sisters of United States citizens) moved forward by 31 days, from July 1, 1984 to August 1, 1984 .
Petitions by Green Card Holders:
The Second Preference Category, F-2A (Spouse and minor children of green card holders) moved forward by 7 days, from March 15, 2002 to March 22, 2002 .
The Second Preference, F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green card holders) moved forward by 23 days, from September 8, 1996 to October 1, 1996 .
Petitions by Employers:
The Third Preference (professionals and skilled workers) of Employment-Based Petitions (Labor Certification) remained the same at August 1, 2002.
The Third Preference (non-skilled workers) remained the same at October 1, 2001.
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. If your priority date was "current", but retrogressed before your immigrant visa was issued (or you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.
The February 2007 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)
|
January 1, 1992
(In January 2007, the priority date was December 15, 1991.)
|
| 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
|
March 22, 2002
(In January 2007, the priority date was
March 15, 2002.)
October 1, 1996
(In January 2007, the priority date was September 8, 1996.)
|
| Third Preference |
Married sons and daughters of
U.S. Citizens |
February 8, 1991
(In January 2007, the priority date was the same.)
|
|
Fourth Preference
|
Brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens
|
August 1, 1984
(In January 2007, the priority date was July 1, 1984.) |
| LABOR CERTIFICATION: |
| Third Preference |
Professional/Skilled Workers |
August 1, 2002
(In January 2007, the priority date was the same.)
|
| Schedule A |
(Nurses/Physical therapists) |
Unavailable or "not listed" on the Bulletin, so regular 3rd preference may apply
(In January 2007, the priority date was June 15, 2004.)
|
| Other Workers |
Non-Skilled workers |
October 1, 2001
(In January 2007, the priority date was the same.) |
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