April 2006




April 2006
Employment-Based All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed CHINA India Mexico Philippines
1st Current January 1st 2004 January 1st 2005 Current Current
2nd Current January 1st 2003 July 1st 2002 Current Current
3rd May 1st 2001 May 1st 2001 February 1st 2001 April 8th 2001 May 1st 2001
Schedule A Workers Current Current Current Current Current
Other Workers October 1st 2001 October 1st 2001 October 1st 2001 October 1st 2001 October 1st 2001
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 August 8th 1994 August 22nd 1991
2A* March 1st 2002 March 1st 2002 March 1st 2002 June 15th 1999 March 1st 2002
2B July 15th 1996 July 15th 1996 July 15th 1996 February 15th 1992 July 8th 1996
3rd July 22nd 1998 July 22nd 1998 July 22nd 1998 January 1st 1995 February 8th 1991
4th November 8th 1994 November 8th 1994 April 1st 1994 August 15th 1993 October 8th 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