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THE AUGUST 2008 PRIORITY DATES
Visas for unskilled workers now “unavailable”
By Michael J. Gurfinkel Esq.
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 7 days
from March 15, 1993 to March 22, 1993.
The Third Preference Category, F-3 (married sons and daughters of
United States citizens) priority date remained the same at April
1, 1991.
The Fourth Preference, F-4 (brothers and sisters
of United States citizens) priority date remained the same at
March 8, 1986.
Petitions
by Green Card Holders:
The Second
Preference, F-2A (Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old)
of green card holder) moved forward by 2 months, from August 1, 2003
to October 1, 2003.
The Second Preference, F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21
years of age, of green card holders) moved forward by 14 days from
March 1, 1997 to March 15, 1997.
Petitions
by Employers:
The Third Preference (professionals and skilled workers)
of Employment-Based Petitions (Labor Certification) priority date is
unavailable. The PD for unskilled (other) workers became "unavailable"
in August, which means no more green cards for unskilled workers until
at least October 2008.
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes the priority
dates for that particular month. This means that visas (or green cards)
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 before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have
to wait until it becomes current again.
The August
2008 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, 1993
(In July
2008, the priority
date was
March 15, 2008.)
|
| Second Preference |
(2A) Spouse and minor children
(below 21 years old) of green card holder |
October 1, 2003
(In July 2008, the priority
date was August 1, 2003)
|
| |
(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters
(over 21 years old) of green card holder |
March 15, 1997
(In July
2008, the priority
date was
March 1, 1997.) |
| |
|
|
| Third Preference |
Married sons and daughters
of U.S. Citizens |
April 1, 1991
(In July
2008, the priority
date was
the same.) |
| |
|
|
| Fourth Preference |
Brothers and sisters of U.S.
Citizens. |
March
8, 1986
(In July
2008, the priority
date was
the same.) |
|
LABOR CERTIFICATION: |
| Third
Preference |
Professional/Skilled
Workers |
Unavailable
(In July
2008, the priority
date was
unavailable.) |
| Other
workers |
Non-Skilled Workers |
Unavailable
(In June
2008, the priority
date was
January 1, 2003.) |
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