It is
the Priority Date that determines when the foreign national is
able to file the final stage of the application for the Green
Card. This final stage of the Green Card process is known as the
Adjustment of Status (if the person is in the United States) or
Visa Processing (if person is outside the United States). Final
Processing means that the INS will accept an Adjustment Packet
at the local Immigration office or will begin the final process
at a consular post.
Understand that the priority date system is only
used for Preference Petitions (1st: over 21 years of age child
of U.S. parent; 2nd A: spouse and child-under 21 years of age-
of Lawful Permanent Residents; 2nd B: over 21 year old child of
Lawful Permanent Resident; 3rd: married child of US parent; 4th:
Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens. Immediate Relatives (Spouse
and children under 21 of U.S. Citizens and Parents of U.S. Citizens
who are over 21) do not have to concern themselves with this system,
as there are basically unlimited visas for this group. Priority
Date is used in employment-based cases that requires Labor Certification
(these are 3rd preference for skilled workers and Other Workers
such as Domestics, Babysitters, and Home Attendants. The Priority
Date is the officially acknowledged date that the case was filed
either at the state level Department of Labor office referred
to as the SESA for Labor Certification cases (Green Card through
your job) or in special employment cases where the category that
does not require labor certification, then the priority date assigned
by the INS is the date the I-140 (Immigrant Visa Petition) is
received by the INS Service Center or in family cases, when the
I-130 form is filed with the Service.
You can determine when your Priority Date is
current in order to complete your application by checking the
dates each month on the Visa Bulletin chart. Every month the U.S.
Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, which indicate
whether a priority date, is current or whether there is a backlog
in order to file for the Adjustment of Status.
The Priority Date Tracker©
a service of VisaBulletin.us simplifies this procedure by
placing your email address in their database and comparing your
Priority Date to the current Priority Date for your category.
A report is generated and forward to you each month. 60 days before
you Priority Date becomes current, you will receive a notice and
instructions for the next step required to complete you application
for Permanent Residency.
The Priority Date Tracker©
is a FREE SERVICE of VisaBulletin.US. Click
below:
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