PRIORITY DATES - DECEMBER 2003

Family Sponsored Preferences:  Note that these categories do NOT pertain to "immediate relative" immigrants of U.S. citizens, as immigrant visas are immediately available to them.

        A.    Spouses and Children;

        B.    Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older);

Third Preference:    Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. citizens; and

Fourth Preference:    Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.

The chart below summarizes the availability of immigrant visa numbers in the above family sponsored preference categories.  The dates given below are "cut-off" dates ("priority dates") for all oversubscribed visa categories.  This means that only visa applicants who have a priority date earlier than the cut-off date may be allotted a number and therefore eligible to file for an immigrant visa.    

Employment Based Preferences:

(1)    First Preference:    Priority Workers;

(2)    Second Preference:    Advanced Degrees Professionals or Persons of Exceptional Ability;

(3)    Third Preference:    Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers;

(4)    Fourth Preference:    Certain Special Immigrants; and

(5)    Fifth Preference:    Employment Creation.

The chart below summarizes the availability of immigrant visa numbers in the above employment based preference categories.  The dates given below are "cut-off" dates ("priority dates") for all oversubscribed visa categories.  This means that only visa applicants who have a priority date earlier than the cut-off date may be allotted a number and therefore eligible to file for an immigrant visa.  "C" means that the numbers for the particular preference category are current and that they are therefore available for all qualified visa applicants. As shown below, ALL EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE CATEGORIES ARE CURRENT!    

* Under U.S. immigration law, "immediate relatives" are defined as:

        (1)   Spouses of U.S. citizen sponsors;

        (2)   Children (under 21) of U.S. citizen sponsors; and

        (3)   Parents of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen sponsor is 21 or older)