F4 · Philippines

What this means for Philippines applicants

For May 2026, F4 for Philippines sits at Mar 22, 2008 under the Dates for Filing chart. That means only applicants whose priority date is earlier than Mar 22, 2008 may move forward this month. Based on today's cutoff, the effective backlog is approximately 18.1 years — though real-world waits depend on how quickly the chart advances month to month.

Family-based categories for the Philippines also face extreme backlogs, particularly F1, F3, and F4. Cutoff dates have historically moved in fits and starts, and applicants should expect waits spanning decades, not years.

How to read this page

The Visa Bulletin publishes two charts each month. The Final Action Dates chart tells you when the U.S. government can actually issue a green card — your priority date must be earlier than the listed cutoff. The Dates for Filing chart is earlier and lets you file Form I-485 (adjustment of status) before your priority date is fully current, provided USCIS has chosen to accept filings against this chart for the month.

For May 2026, USCIS is accepting family-based adjustment filings against the Dates for Filing chart. This can change month to month — always confirm against uscis.gov/visabulletininfo before filing.

Priority date basics

For F4, your priority date is the date USCIS received your I-130 petition. This is the date you use to measure progress against the Visa Bulletin every month.