July 2012




Employment-Based

All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed

China: Mainland Born India Mexico Philippines
1st Current Current Current Current Current
2nd January 1st 2009 Unavailable Unavailable January 1st 2009 January 1st 2009
3rd July 22nd 2006 September 22nd 2005 September 22nd 2002 July 22nd 2006 June 8th 2006
Other Workers July 22nd 2006 June 15th 2003 September 22nd 2002 July 22nd 2006 June 8th 2006
4th Current Current Current Current Current
Certain Religious Workers Current Current Current Current Current

5th
Targeted
Employment
Areas/
Regional Centers
and Pilot Programs

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-Sponsored
All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed China: Mainland Born India Mexico Philippines
F1 July 8th 2005 July 8th 2005 July 8th 2005 June 8th 1993 July 15th 1997
F2A February 15th 2010 February 15th 2010 February 15th 2010 February 1st 2010 February 15th 2010
F2B May 1st 2004 May 1st 2004 May 1st 2004 January 1st 1992 December 22nd 2001
F3 April 15th 2002 April 15th 2002 April 15th 2002 January 22nd 1993 July 22nd 1992
F4 January 22nd 2001 January 8th 2001 January 22nd 2001 June 8th 1996 February 1st 1989

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