February 2004




February 2004
Priority Dates for Employment-Based Immigrant Visas
Employment-Based

All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed

India

Mexico

Philippines

1st

Current

Current

Current

Current

2nd

Current

Current

Current

Current

3rd

Current

Current

Current

Current

Other Workers

Current

Current

Current

Current

4th

Current

Current

Current

Current

Certain Religious Workers

Current

Current Current Current

5th

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

India

Mexico

Philippines

1st

September 8th 2000

September 8th 2000

October 15th 1994

June 1st 1990

2A*

March 1st 1999

March 1st 1999

August 1st 1996

March 1st 1999

2B

May 8th 1995

May 8th 1995

December 8th 1991

May 8th 1995

3rd

September 15th 1997

September 15th 1997

January 8th 1995

January 15th 1990

4th

April 1st 1992

December 22nd 1990

April 1st 1992

January 22nd 1982

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