January 2009
January 2009| Employment-Based |
All Charge-Ability Areas Except Those Listed |
China: Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
| 1st | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 2nd | Current | July 8th 2004 | July 1st 2003 | Current | Current |
| 3rd | May 1st 2005 | June 1st 2002 | October 15th 2001 | November 15th 2002 | May 1st 2005 |
| Other Workers | March 15th 2003 | March 15th 2003 | March 15th 2003 | March 15th 2003 | March 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 |
June 15th 2002
|
June 15th 2002
|
June 15th 2002
|
October 1st 1992
|
July 15th 1993
|
| 2A |
May 15th 2004
|
May 15th 2004
|
May 15th 2004
|
August 15th 2001
|
May 15th 2004
|
| 2B |
March 22nd 2000
|
March 22nd 2000
|
March 22nd 2000
|
May 1st 1992
|
September 1st 1997
|
| 3rd |
August 1st 2000
|
August 1st 2000
|
August 1st 2000
|
October 1st 1992
|
May 22nd 1991
|
| 4th |
February 8th 1998
|
August 22nd 1997
|
November 1st 1997 |
March 8th 1995
|
May 1st 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