Priority Date

The filing date of the first patent application disclosing an invention, which filing date has occurred no more than 12 months before the filing date of a later-filed patent application claiming the priority date of the first application. MPEP 201.13, MPEP 201.13(b), MPEP 1828.

The priority date determines a person's turn to apply for an immigrant visa. In family immigration, the priority date is the date when the petition was filed at a DHS office or submitted to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. In employment immigration, the priority date may be the date the labor certification application was received by the Department of Labor (DOL).