December 2008
December 2008| Employment-Based |
All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed |
China: Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
| 1st | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 2nd | Current | June 1st 2004 | June 1st 2003 | Current | Current |
| 3rd | May 1st 2005 | February 1st 2002 | October 1st 2001 | September 1st 2002 | May 1st 2005 |
| Other Workers | January 15th 2003 | January 15th 2003 | January 15th 2003 | January 15th 2003 | January 15th 2003 |
| 4th | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| Certain Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 5th | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| Targeted Employ-ment 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 |
May 22nd 2002
|
May 22nd 2002
|
May 22nd 2002
|
September 22nd 1992
|
June 1st 1993
|
| 2A |
April 1st 2004
|
April 1st 2004
|
April 1st 2004
|
August 1st 2001
|
April 1st 2004
|
| 2B |
February 15th 2000
|
February 15th 2000
|
February 15th 2000
|
May 1st 1992
|
July 15th 1997
|
| 3rd |
July 22nd 2000
|
July 22nd 2000
|
July 22nd 2000
|
October 1st 1992
|
May 15th 1991
|
| 4th |
January 1st 1998
|
July 15th 1997
|
September 15th 1997
|
February 15th 1995
|
April 15th 1986
|
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