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Effective month: 2026-05 · Live from travel.state.gov
Philippines Visa Bulletin — Current Final Action & Filing Dates
Philippines-chargeable employment-based applicants generally face short or no waits in EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Skilled. The longer Philippines backlogs are concentrated in family-based categories and EB-3 Other Workers. Healthcare workers (RN, RT, MT) typically file under EB-3 Skilled.
Final Action Dates — Philippines
The date at which final approval (green card) is possible. Your priority date must be EARLIER than this date.
| Category | Cutoff | Behind today |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | — |
| EB-2 | Current | — |
| EB-3 | Aug 1, 2023 | 2.8 yr |
| EB-3-Other | Nov 1, 2021 | 4.6 yr |
| EB-5 | Current | — |
Dates for Filing — Philippines
The earlier cutoff that USCIS sometimes adopts for accepting I-485 filings. Check the USCIS monthly “which chart applies” notice.
| Category | Cutoff | Behind today |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | — |
| EB-2 | Current | — |
| EB-3 | Jan 1, 2024 | 2.4 yr |
| EB-3-Other | Aug 1, 2022 | 3.8 yr |
| EB-5 | Current | — |
Run your priority-date lookup
Enter your exact priority date on the main Visa Bulletin tracker to see months/years behind cutoff for every category at once.
Backlog context for Philippines
Philippines EB-2 and EB-3 Skilled have been at or near current in most months of FY2026. EB-3 Other Workers Philippines tracks the ROW backlog. EB-3 healthcare petitions remain the largest single Philippines employment-based filing volume, and these typically file under EB-3 Skilled rather than Other Workers, so the practical wait is short. EB-5 Philippines is generally current.
What this means for your case
If you're Philippines-born EB-2 or EB-3 Skilled (including most RN/healthcare cases): I-485 concurrent filing is typically available. Confirm month-by-month for retrogression risk. If you're EB-3 Other Workers Philippines: assume a multi-year wait. The family-based Philippines backlogs (F-3 and F-4 especially) operate on different cutoff dates and are tracked on the family-based section of the bulletin.
Category reference
EB-1
EB-1 (Extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, multinational execs)
EB-2
EB-2 (Advanced degree / exceptional ability)
EB-3
EB-3 (Skilled workers, professionals)
EB-3-Other
EB-3 Other Workers (Unskilled)
EB-5
EB-5 (Investors)
Frequently asked questions
What does "Final Action Date" mean for Philippines EB-2?
The Final Action Date is the cutoff priority date at which USCIS or DOS can actually issue the green card. If your priority date is BEFORE the Final Action Date listed for Philippines EB-2 this month, your case is eligible for final approval. The separate "Dates for Filing" chart governs when you can submit the I-485 application — but only when USCIS announces it will follow that chart instead of the FAD chart for filing.
Can I file I-485 if Philippines EB-2 has a Date for Filing earlier than my priority date?
Only when USCIS announces "Dates for Filing" is the filing chart for that month and category. USCIS publishes that announcement on its website around the same time the State Department publishes the bulletin. When DFF is the controlling chart and your priority date is earlier than the listed DFF, you can submit I-485 concurrently. When FAD is the controlling chart for filing, you must wait until your priority date is earlier than the FAD.
Will Philippines backlogs move faster in FY2027?
Movement depends on three things: (1) how DOS allocates the ~140,000 employment-based visas across categories, (2) per-country 7% caps and the spillover rules, and (3) actual demand. Projections from CATO Institute, IPI, and DOL data suggest the structural India EB-2/EB-3 wait will not materially shorten without legislation. Smaller chargeability areas can move faster within a fiscal year if demand drops below the per-country allocation.
Should I pursue EB-1A/NIW instead of waiting in EB-2 Philippines?
If you have publications, citations, awards, or proprietary work that maps to the Kazarian / Dhanasar criteria, yes — the EB-1A and EB-2 NIW pathways skip PERM entirely and (for Philippines) often have shorter or no priority-date wait than the standard EB-2 backlog. See /eb1a-niw-scorer and /eb2-niw-evidence-builder for self-assessment tools.
What happens to my priority date if I change employers?
Under AC21 §106(d) (now codified at INA §204(j)), your I-140 priority date "ports" to a same-or-similar position with a new employer as long as the underlying I-140 was approved and has not been revoked for fraud or material misrepresentation. The priority date stays with you; you do NOT restart the line. The new employer must file a new I-140 (the role/title/duties may differ) — but your place in the Philippines backlog is preserved.
Other chargeability areas
India
India-born EB-2 and EB-3 are the longest employment-based waits in the world. EB-1 is the only category with a non-trivial advance pace.
China
China-mainland born EB-2 and EB-3 are backlogged but materially shorter than India. EB-5 has its own long wait under the per-country investor cap.
Mexico
Mexico EB-2 and EB-3 are mostly current. EB-3 Other Workers and EB-4 have backlogs that affect specific categories.
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