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New Priority Dates Could Mean Sooner Green Cards

by | Jul 16, 2010 | Immigration, Immigration News

New published priority dates for U.S. immigrant visas may mean waiting applicants from India and China may be able to obtain their permanent residence status sooner than previously expected.

A priority date is determined by the application’s filing date and establishes an applicant’s place in line for obtaining an immigrant visa. Given the high demand, wait times can often be lengthy as the number of available family-based and employment-based immigrant visas is limited annually by preference category and by country of origin. Countries with the highest demand for U.S. immigrant visas – China, India, the Dominican, Mexico and the Philippines – often have the longest wait periods.

Each month, the Department of State publishes the current priority dates in the agency’s Visa Bulletin. Applicants who filed their immigrant visa paperwork prior to the current priority date are now able to file their Adjustment of Status paperwork and obtain their green card. The August Visa Bulletin published the following priority dates:

Family Based Preference Priority Dates

Preference Category China India Dominican Republic Mexico The Philippines All other countries
1st August 1, 2005 August 1, 2005 August 1, 2005 November 15, 1992 January 1, 1996 August 1, 2005
2nd –A March 1, 2009 March 1, 2009 March 1, 2008 March 1, 2008 March 1, 2009 March 1, 2009
2nd – B January 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 June 15, 1992 August 1, 2001 January 1, 2004
3rd January 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 March 1, 1992 May 1, 1994 January 1, 2002
4th June 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 January 1, 1994 April 1, 1990 June 1, 2001

 

Employment Based Preference Priority Dates

Preference Category China India Dominican Republic Mexico The Philippines All other countries
1st Current Current Current Current Current Current
2nd March 1, 2006 March 1, 2006 Current Current Current Current
3rd Sept.22, 2003 January 1, 2002 June 1, 2004 June 1, 2004 June 1, 2004
Other Workers May 15, 2002 January 1, 2002 May 15, 2002 May 15, 2002 May 15, 2002
4th Current Current Current Current Current Current
Certain Religious Workers Current Current Current Current Current Current
5th Current Current Current Current Current Current
Targeted Employment Areas/ Regional Centers Current Current Current Current Current Current
5th Pilot Programs Current Current Current Current Current Current

Definitions of the preference categories as well as additional information regarding August 2010 priority dates can be found in the August 2010 Visa Bulletin.  Click here to read more.

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