PRIORITY DATE TRACKER Priority Dates for Family-Based Green Card Applications
October 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011
F1 February 15, 2006 February 15, 2006 February 15, 2006 January 1, 2005 January 1, 2005 January 1, 2005 May 1, 2004 May 1, 2004 May 1, 2004
F2A April 1, 2010 June 1, 2010 August 1, 2010 January 1, 2008 January 1, 2008 January 1, 2007 April 1, 2007 June 8, 2007 August 22, 2007
F2B April 1, 2005 June 1, 2005 June 1, 2005 April 15, 2003 April 15, 2003 April 15, 2003 April 15, 2003 April 15, 2003 April 15, 2003
F3 May 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 January 1, 2001 January 1, 2001 January 1, 2001 March 15, 2001 May 1, 2001 June 1, 2001
F4 December 1, 2001 January 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 January 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 March 8, 2000 March 8, 2000
This table shows the most up-to-date waiting times for family-based green card applications subject to an annual quota; the category of immediate relatives – which includes the spouses, minor children (under 21 and unmarried), and parents of US citizens – is not subject to any quota and therefore don’t appear in this table. The data presented here begins in October 2010 and was last updated in May 2011.*
Deciphering the Table & Understanding How Long You’ll Have to Wait for Your Green Card The first row identifies the five different categories of family members who can be sponsored for a green card (in addition to immediate relatives). They are: -
F1 F2A F2B F3 F4
the unmarried children, over the age of 21, of US citizens the spouses and minor children of Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) the unmarried children, over the age of 21, of Lawful Permanent Residents the married children of US citizens the brothers and sisters of US citizens
The subsequent rows then show the wait time for each category based on priority dates. For the F1 – F4 categories, getting a green card is a two-step process. The first step is the filing of Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with the USCIS. The date the USCIS receives your application will become your priority date. The second step involves applying for your green card (also referred to as an Immigrant Visa or a Permanent Visa). The amount of time you will have to wait between the two steps depends on your classification. On a monthly basis the US Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, which indicates the priority dates for the cases currently being processed. If your priority date is the same or earlier as that listed in the Visa Bulletin, you can apply for your green card. For example, if F1 cases with a priority date of February 15, 2006 are being processed, you can apply for your green card if your priority date is February 15, 2006 or earlier. The Visa Bulletin can be accessed here : http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html * For historical data beginning in October 1991, consult the table entitled “Worldwide (non-oversubscribed countries only) Family Preference Cut-Off Dates from FY1992-2010” available through the Visa Bulletin website.
Office of Attorney Edward Weiner ◊ Website: http://www.immigration-aux-usa.com/ Telephone: (617) 889-0215 (USA) ◊ (617) 682-8130 (USA) ◊ +33 (0)6 67 88 73 85 (France)
