October 2002

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October 2002

**Priority Dates for Employment-Based Immigrant Visas**
Employment-Based	All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed	India	Mexico	Philippines
1^st	Current	Current	Current	Current
2^nd	Current	Current	Current	Current
3^rd	Current	Current	Current	Current
Other Workers	Current	Current	Current	Current
4^th	Current	Current	Current	Current
Certain Religious Workers	Current	Current	Current	Current
5^th	Current	Current	Current	Current
Targeted Employment Areas/Regional Centers	Current	Current	Current	Current

First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.

Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.

Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "*Other Workers".

Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.

Fifth: Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of Pub. L. 102-395.

**Priority Dates for Family Based Immigrant Visas**
Family-Based	All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed	Mexico	Philippines
1^st	March 1st 1999	November 1st 1991	December 1st 1989
2A*	July 15th 1997	February 1st 1995	July 15th 1997
2B	February 1st 1994	October 22nd 1991	February 1st 1994
3^rd	October 8th 1996	July 15th 1992	October 1st 1989
4^th	October 1st 1990	May 22nd 1990	October 8th 1981

First: (F1) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents

A. (F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

B. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

September 2002 Back to Bulletin List November 2002

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