F2B Visa Bulletin: Unmarried Adult Children of LPRs Backlogs
Published 2026-08-08 · Sources: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, USCIS
Photo: Vitolda Klein via UnsplashThe F2B category — unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of lawful permanent residents — sits in the middle of the family pack, and the August 2026 Visa Bulletin shows why birthplace matters so much. Most areas sit at 01JAN18, but Mexico falls to 15FEB09 and the Philippines to 01JUN13. That spread is the 7% per-country cap doing its quiet, frustrating work.
F2B Final Action Dates, August 2026 (verbatim)
| Chargeability | F2B Final Action Date |
|---|---|
| All Chargeability Areas | 01JAN18 |
| China | 01JAN18 |
| India | 01JAN18 |
| Mexico | 15FEB09 |
| Philippines | 01JUN13 |
Verbatim from the Visa Bulletin for August 2026, Final Action Dates. “C” = Current, “U” = Unavailable.
How far behind is each country?
Approximate years behind each F2B cutoff, measured from the August 2026 bulletin. The listed date is what controls your case.
Approximate years since each cutoff date, measured from the August 2026 bulletin.
Why the F2B gap is so country-specific
The family-based annual limit is approximately 226,000, and F2B draws from the same F2 allocation as the faster-moving F2A. But the 7% per-country cap means Mexico and the Philippines each get only a small slice of worldwide visas. Because demand from those two countries for adult-child visas is historically high, their F2B cutoffs fall far behind the general column — Mexico back to 2009, the Philippines to 2013.
China and India, by contrast, share the 01JAN18 All-Areas date for F2B. (India’s family demand concentrates in other categories, and China’s in employment.) The result is a clean illustration: the same preference, three very different waits.
What each cutoff means for your case
The Final Action Date is when a visa number can actually be issued. Using the August 2026 bulletin:
- All Areas / China / India: a priority date on or before 01JAN18 is Current.
- Mexico: a priority date on or before 15FEB09 is Current.
- Philippines: a priority date on or before 01JUN13 is Current.
If your priority date is later than your column’s cutoff, you remain in the queue and wait for the date to advance.
The F2B path in practice
The petition, Form I-130, carries a USCIS fee of $675, and USCIS reports a typical processing time of 10–16 months. After approval, the case waits for the F2B priority date to become current. Once it does, the beneficiary proceeds through National Visa Center and consular processing, or adjustment of status (Form I-485, fee $1,440) if already in the U.S. Work and travel permits (I-765 $260, I-131 $630) are separate filings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the F2B category?
F2B covers unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of lawful permanent residents. It is a family-sponsored preference subject to the annual numerical limit, so it carries a cutoff date.
How do the F2B cutoffs differ by country in August 2026?
All Chargeability Areas, China, and India share 01JAN18. The Philippines is 01JUN13, and Mexico is 15FEB09 — both much older, reflecting demand against the 7% per-country cap.
What happens to F2B if the beneficiary marries?
F2B requires the child to remain unmarried. Marriage generally terminates eligibility in this category. Status as an unmarried adult son or daughter is assessed at visa issuance, but a marriage typically ends the F2B petition.
What does 01JAN18 mean for my case?
For All Areas/China/India, a priority date on or before January 1, 2018 is Current in August 2026. Mexico needs on or before 15FEB09; Philippines needs on or before 01JUN13. Later dates must keep waiting.