Philippines Family Priority Dates: F1–F4 August 2026 Cutoffs
Published 2026-08-08 · Sources: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, USCIS
Photo: Gaël Gaborel - OrbisTerrae via UnsplashBorn in the Philippines? You carry some of the longest family-based backlogs after Mexico. The August 2026 Visa Bulletin shows Philippine family cutoffs from 22JUL26 (F2A) back to 22FEB06 (F3) and 01AUG07(F4). Below is every Philippines family preference date, and the rule behind them all: the 7% per-country cap.
Philippines family Final Action Dates, August 2026 (verbatim)
| Category | Who it covers | Philippines FAD |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Unmarried adult sons/daughters of citizens | 01MAY13 |
| F2A | Spouses & minor children of LPRs | 22JUL26 |
| F2B | Unmarried adult sons/daughters of LPRs | 01JUN13 |
| F3 | Married sons/daughters of citizens | 22FEB06 |
| F4 | Siblings of citizens | 01AUG07 |
Verbatim from the Visa Bulletin for August 2026, Final Action Dates. “C” = Current, “U” = Unavailable.
How long is each wait?
Approximate years behind each Philippines cutoff, measured from the August 2026 bulletin. The listed date is what actually controls your case.
Approximate years since each cutoff date, measured from the August 2026 bulletin.
The 7% per-country cap, explained
U.S. immigration law limits each country to 7% of worldwide annual visas. The family-based annual limit is approximately 226,000, so the Philippines’ family share is a small fraction of that total. Because demand from the Philippines for family visas is far larger than its 7% allocation, the Visa Bulletin publishes a separate Philippines column for every preference except Immediate Relatives.
The effect varies by category. F2A — spouses and minor children of permanent residents — tracks the general column almost exactly (22JUL26), because that preference is both high-priority and comparatively contained. F1 and F2B sit in the 2013 range. F3 (married children) falls to 22FEB06 and F4 (siblings) to 01AUG07, reflecting the heaviest, least-prioritized demand.
Reading a Philippines priority date
A Final Action Date is when a visa number can actually be issued. For August 2026, a Philippines-born applicant is Current only if their priority date is on or before the date shown for their category above. Anyone later in the queue waits for the cutoff to advance.
What comes after the petition
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 beneficiary waits for the priority date to become current. Once it does, the case 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
Why does the Philippines have its own family cutoff column?
U.S. law caps each country at 7% of worldwide annual visas. Philippine demand for family visas is so high that it exceeds its 7% share, so the Visa Bulletin publishes a separate Philippines column for F1–F4.
Which Philippines family category is closest to current?
F2A (spouses and minor children of LPRs) is nearest current at 22JUL26 in August 2026 — essentially in line with the general column. The farthest is F3 married children at 22FEB06, then F4 siblings at 01AUG07.
Are Immediate Relatives affected by the Philippines backlog?
No. Spouses, minor children, and parents of U.S. citizens are Immediate Relatives, not subject to numerical limits. They have no cutoff and no wait beyond normal processing, regardless of Philippine chargeability.
What is the family-based annual limit?
The family-based annual limit is approximately 226,000. Every family preference (F1–F4) competes for a share of that total, and the 7% per-country cap further restricts how many the Philippines can receive each year.