October 2005




October 2005
Employment-Based All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed China India Mexico Philippines
1st Current January 1st 2000 August 1st 2002 Current Current
2nd Current May 1st 2000 November 1st 1999 Current Current
3rd March 1st 2001 May 1st 2000 January 1st 1998 January 1st 2001 March 1st 2001
Schedule A Workers Current Current Current Current Current
Other Workers October 1st 2000 October 1st 2000 October 1st 2000 October 1st 2000 October 1st 2000
4th Current Current Current Current Current
Certain Religious Workers Current Current Current Current Current
5th Current Current Current Current Current
Targeted Employment Areas/Regional Centers Current 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.

Family-Based All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed China: Mainland Born India Mexico Philippines
1st April 22nd 2001 April 22nd 2001 April 22nd 2001 January 1st 1993 May 22nd 1991
2A* November 1st 2001 November 1st 2001 November 1st 2001 October 1st 1998 November 1st 2001
2B April 22nd 1996 April 22nd 1996 April 22nd 1996 December 1st 1991 April 22nd 1996
3rd April 15th 1998 April 15th 1998 April 15th 1998 January 1st 1993 November 8th 1990
4th February 1st 1994 February 1st 1994 August 1st 1993 February 1st 1991 May 1st 1983

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