16 Jan February 2013 Immigration News
CHICAGO – On Tuesday, January 8, 2013, the Illinois legislature passed a bill to allow state residents without legal status to obtain a three-year renewable driver’s license. The law will create tens if not hundreds of thousands of newly licensed drivers. The bill, which awaits the Governor’s promised signature, will make Illinois the third state after New Mexico and Washington to allow unauthorized immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. (Utah allows undocumented immigrants to apply for driving privilege cards.)
February 2013 Visa Bulletin
The February 2013 visa bulletin showed two weeks to 11 weeks advances in the family based preferences. The employment based third preference skilled workers and unskilled workers advanced by one week since last month. The February 2013 visa bulletin follows:
February 2013 State Department Visa Bulletin.
The Department of State will be processing the following petitions with priority dates earlier than indicated below.
A. Family Based Preferences:
1. First Preference Unmarried Sons and Daughter of Citizens Mar. 08, 1998
This Preference advanced by 11 weeks since last month.
2. Second Preference:
a. Spouses and Minor Children of Permanent Residents Oct. 22, 2010
This Preference advanced by 4 weeks since last month.
b. Unmarried Sons and Daughter 21 years and over of Lawful Permanent Residents May 15, 2002
This Preference advanced by 4 weeks since last month.
3. Third Preference Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens Aug. 22, 1992
This Preference advanced by 2 weeks since last month.
4. Fourth Preference Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens June 01, 1989
This Preference advanced by 6 weeks since last month.
B. Employment Based Preferences:
1. First Preference – Priority Workers Current
2. Second Preference – Advanced Degree Professionals Current
3. Third Preference – Skilled Workers & Professionals Aug. 22, 2006
This preference advanced by one week since last month
Unskilled – Other Workers Aug. 22, 2006
This preference advanced by one week since last month
Scheduled A Workers Aug. 22, 2006
This preference advanced by one week since last month
Please note that for the month of February 2013, Employment Based Third Preference visa (professionals and skilled workers) is available for the Philippine nationals with approved labor certifications or I-140 petitions with priority dates earlier than August 22, 2006. For Schedule A nurses and physical therapist, immigrant visa is also available for February 3013, if they have an approved I-140 petition dated earlier than August 22, 2006.
Third Preference visas for Unskilled Workers such as caregivers, nursing assistants and nannies are available for those Philippine Nationals with approved labor certifications dated earlier than August 22, 2006 for the month of February 2013.
Note: This is not a legal advice.