F3 Philippines Visa Bulletin: Married-Child Wait at 22FEB06
Published 2026-08-08 · Sources: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, USCIS
Photo: Gaël Gaborel - OrbisTerrae via UnsplashA married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen, born in the Philippines, who filed in early 2006 is only now reaching the front of the line. The August 2026 Visa Bulletin sets the Philippines F3 Final Action Date at 22FEB06 — February 22, 2006. If your priority date is later than that, you are still waiting. That places the Philippines well behind the general family column, where F3 sits at 15MAY12.
F3 Final Action Dates, August 2026 (verbatim)
| Chargeability | F3 Final Action Date |
|---|---|
| All Chargeability Areas | 15MAY12 |
| China | 15MAY12 |
| India | 15MAY12 |
| Mexico | 01JUL01 |
| Philippines | 22FEB06 |
Verbatim from the Visa Bulletin for August 2026, Final Action Dates. “C” = Current, “U” = Unavailable.
How far behind is the Philippines?
Here is the F3 wait behind each cutoff, measured in approximate years from the August 2026 bulletin. The listed date is the only figure that controls your case.
Approximate years since each cutoff date, measured from the August 2026 bulletin.
Why the Philippines F3 backlog runs so deep
Two limits act together. First, the family-based annual limit is approximately 226,000, and F3 shares that ceiling with every other family preference. Second, the 7% per-country cap restricts the Philippines to a small share of worldwide visas. Philippine demand for F3 has long outstripped that share, so its cutoff drifts further from the “All Chargeability Areas” line over time.
Mexico F3 (01JUL01) is even older than the Philippines because Mexican demand for married-child visas is larger still relative to its 7% share. Both countries show the same mechanism: a per-country cap colliding with very high demand inside a fixed family ceiling.
What 22FEB06 means for your case
The Final Action Date is when a visa number can actually be issued. If your priority date (set when USCIS received the I-130) is on or before February 22, 2006, you are Current for August 2026. If it is later, you stay in the queue and wait for the cutoff to advance in future bulletins.
The F3 timeline in practice
A case moves in stages. The family 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 F3 priority date to become current. Once it does, the beneficiary proceeds through National Visa Center and consular processing abroad, or through adjustment of status (Form I-485) if already in the United States. The I-485 fee is $1,440; optional work and travel permits (I-765 $260, I-131 $630) are filed separately.
Planning around the wait
Because F3 waits run many years for the Philippines, families often ask whether other routes exist — for example, whether the beneficiary’s spouse might have an independent path, or whether the citizen could also petition a parent (an Immediate Relative not subject to numerical limits). Those options depend on individual facts, so confirm against the official sources before acting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the F3 category?
F3 covers married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, including their spouses and minor children. It is a family-sponsored preference subject to the annual numerical limit, so it carries a cutoff date.
How does the Philippines F3 cutoff compare to other countries?
In August 2026, F3 is 15MAY12 for All Chargeability Areas, China, and India; 01JUL01 for Mexico; and 22FEB06 for the Philippines. The Philippines backlog sits well behind the general column, reflecting heavy demand against the 7% per-country cap.
If I marry after my parent files, do I lose F3?
Marital status is set at the time of visa issuance, not filing, but the category is F3 specifically because the beneficiary is married. A previously unmarried F1 beneficiary who marries generally moves to F3 and takes that category's (later) cutoff.
What happens after my priority date becomes current?
Once the F3 Final Action Date reaches your priority date, the case moves to National Visa Center and consular processing (or I-485 adjustment if already in the U.S.). The I-485 fee is $1,440; work and travel permits (I-765 $260, I-131 $630) are separate.