(MEXICO) Families following the F1 category in the Visa Bulletin from November 2025 to December 2025 will see one clear headline: only Mexico moved forward, while India, China (mainland-born), and the Philippines stayed exactly where they were. The December 2025 update advances Mexico’s F1 Final Action Date by a little over three months, opening the door for a specific group waiting since late 2005 and early 2006. For everyone else, the picture is unchanged. This step-by-step guide explains what shifted, what didn’t, and how to read your place in line so you know what actions to take now.
Why the F1 category matters and how the charts control timing
Under Section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the family-sponsored system sets annual limits and divides visas into preference groups. The F1 category covers the unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 or older) of U.S. citizens. Because this category is numerically limited worldwide and by country, it often shows backlogs.
The United States lists four chargeability areas that are regularly oversubscribed in this category: China (mainland born), India, Mexico, and the Philippines. When demand exceeds supply, the Visa Bulletin assigns cut-off dates, and only cases with priority dates earlier than those cut-offs can move forward.
Each monthly Visa Bulletin includes two different family charts:
- Final Action Dates (Chart A): Controls when a green card can actually be approved.
- For consular processing, it governs visa issuance.
- For cases inside the U.S., USCIS usually requires applicants to follow this chart unless it explicitly allows use of the Filing chart.
- Dates for Filing (Chart B): Lets applicants start earlier—submitting applications or documents when USCIS authorizes use of this chart.
- Think of it as the “when you may send in your paperwork” chart, while Final Action is the “when your case can be finalized” chart.
Key signals:
– If a date appears, the category is backlogged—only those with priority dates earlier than that date may take the relevant step.
– C means current—no backlog.
– U means unavailable—no numbers that month.
In November and December 2025, all four focus countries show dates on both charts, which means all are backlogged in the F1 category.
November 2025 baseline: exact F1 cut-offs and what they mean
To see change, we first set the baseline using the November 2025 Visa Bulletin (Number 8, Volume XI).
Final Action Dates for F1 (November 2025):
– India: 08NOV2016
– China (mainland born): 08NOV2016
– Mexico: 22NOV2005
– Philippines: 22JAN2013
Plain-language interpretation:
– Indian and Chinese F1 cases could be approved in November only if the priority date was earlier than 08NOV2016.
– Mexican F1 cases needed priority dates earlier than 22NOV2005.
– Philippine F1 cases needed priority dates earlier than 22JAN2013.
These dates reveal the queue lengths:
– India and China: about 9 years behind the calendar (as of Nov 2025).
– Philippines: close to 13 years behind.
– Mexico: about 20 years behind.
Dates for Filing for F1 (November 2025):
– India: 01SEP2017
– China (mainland born): 01SEP2017
– Mexico: 01MAR2007
– Philippines: 22APR2015
When USCIS authorizes use of the Filing chart, these dates let families step into the process earlier, even though actual approval must wait for the Final Action date to reach them. The Filing dates are less backlogged than Final Action, giving some families a chance to prepare in advance.
December 2025 snapshot: the only movement is Mexico
The December 2025 Visa Bulletin (Number 9, Volume XI) lists F1 Final Action Dates as:
– India: 08NOV2016
– China (mainland born): 08NOV2016
– Mexico: 01MAR2006
– Philippines: 22JAN2013
Month-to-month comparison:
– India: no change (08NOV2016 → 08NOV2016)
– China: no change (08NOV2016 → 08NOV2016)
– Philippines: no change (22JAN2013 → 22JAN2013)
– Mexico: forward movement (22NOV2005 → 01MAR2006)
Dates for Filing in December 2025:
– India: 01SEP2017
– China (mainland born): 01SEP2017
– Mexico: 01MAR2007
– Philippines: 22APR2015
These Filing dates are identical to November 2025. So, the only change between the two months appears in the Final Action chart, and only for Mexico’s F1.
Step-by-step: how to read your place in line each month
Follow this simple method to match your priority date to the Visa Bulletin and understand what you can do:
1) Identify your category and country
– Confirm you’re in the F1 category (unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen) and note your chargeability (India, China, Mexico, or the Philippines for this analysis).
2) Find your priority date
– Your priority date is the date the petition was properly filed for you. It’s the key number you’ll compare to the Bulletin each month.
3) Check the Final Action chart (Chart A)
– If the date shown for your country is later than your priority date, your case is current for approval in that month.
– For consular processing, that means a visa may be issued.
– For cases inside the U.S., USCIS can approve when it follows this chart.
4) Check the Dates for Filing chart (Chart B)
– When USCIS authorizes use of Chart B, if its date is later than your priority date, you can file even if your Final Action date isn’t current yet.
– You’ll still wait for the Final Action date to reach your priority date for approval.
5) Re-check every month
– The Visa Bulletin changes monthly. Even modest moves—like Mexico’s three-month step in December 2025—can open the door for families whose dates sit close to the cut-off.
For the official monthly charts, use the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html.
Country-specific actions now based on December 2025
These practical steps reflect only what the November and December 2025 charts show.
India
– Final Action: 08NOV2016 (no change)
– Filing: 01SEP2017 (no change)
– What to do now:
– If your priority date is earlier than 08NOV2016, your case sits within the approval window for both November and December. Expect action tied to that status in these months.
– If your priority date is between 08NOV2016 and 01SEP2017, you’re in the filing-but-not-approval window when USCIS allows Chart B. Prepare materials for filing during any period USCIS uses the Filing chart.
– If your priority date is on or after 01SEP2017, neither chart opens in November or December. Continue monitoring monthly bulletins.
China (mainland born)
– Final Action: 08NOV2016 (no change)
– Filing: 01SEP2017 (no change)
– What to do now:
– Earlier than 08NOV2016: You’re current for approval in both months.
– Between 08NOV2016 and 01SEP2017: You may be able to file when Chart B is authorized, but you’re not current for approval yet.
– 01SEP2017 or later: Wait and keep tracking monthly.
Mexico
– Final Action: moved from 22NOV2005 to 01MAR2006
– Filing: 01MAR2007 (no change)
– What to do now:
– Earlier than 22NOV2005: You were already current in November and stay current in December.
– Between 23NOV2005 and 28FEB2006: You were not current in November, but your date becomes current in December as the cut-off advances to 01MAR2006. This is the group that benefits directly from the December 2025 move.
– Between 01MAR2006 and 28FEB2007: You still aren’t current for approval, but you may be in the filing window if USCIS uses the Filing chart set at 01MAR2007.
– On or after 01MAR2007: Neither chart opens for you in November or December.
Philippines
– Final Action: 22JAN2013 (no change)
– Filing: 22APR2015 (no change)
– What to do now:
– Earlier than 22JAN2013: You’re current for approval in both months.
– Between 22JAN2013 and 22APR2015: You may be able to file when Chart B is allowed, but you’re not current for approval yet.
– After 22APR2015: Keep watching; neither chart opens for November or December.
What to expect when your date becomes current
When your priority date is earlier than the Final Action cut-off for your country and month:
– For consular processing: The Final Action chart controls visa issuance in that month. If your date is current, a visa can be issued once your case is otherwise complete.
– For adjustment of status: USCIS typically follows the Final Action chart unless it authorizes the Filing chart. If your date is current under Final Action, your green card can be approved when your case is ready.
If your date is earlier than the Filing cut-off (and USCIS authorizes Chart B):
– You may submit your application package earlier, then wait for Final Action to catch up. This lets you get in the queue sooner, even though approval must wait.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, families often watch Final Action movement month to month while also using the Filing chart to prepare when USCIS permits it, because the Filing chart can open a small early window before approval becomes possible.
Planning around stalls and small advances
The November-to-December 2025 shift shows how a month can matter for some and not at all for others. India and China remain fixed at 08NOV2016, suggesting a pause at that cut-off for both months. The Philippines holds at 22JAN2013, maintaining a long-standing queue. Mexico’s forward move to 01MAR2006 is modest in the big picture but decisive for those whose dates land in December 2005 through February 2006.
Strategies to manage the wait:
– Match your priority date to both charts every month. A small shift like Mexico’s can suddenly include you.
– If you’re within the Filing window (when USCIS authorizes Chart B), get your documents ready so you can file at the first opportunity.
– If you’re already current under Final Action, focus on ensuring your case is otherwise ready to finish, since that’s the chart that controls approvals in the Visa Bulletin, December 2025 included.
Grounded in the November 2025 (Number 8, Volume XI) and December 2025 (Number 9, Volume XI) data, the clearest answer is straightforward: only Mexico’s F1 Final Action Date moved forward—from 22NOV2005 to 01MAR2006—while India, China, and the Philippines showed no change at all on either chart. For families waiting in the F1 category, that single shift can turn a long wait into a green light, even as others hold steady for another month.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
In December 2025, the Visa Bulletin advanced Mexico’s F1 Final Action Date from 22NOV2005 to 01MAR2006, making applicants with priority dates in late 2005 through February 2006 eligible for approval. India and China (mainland-born) remained at 08NOV2016 on both charts, and the Philippines stayed at 22JAN2013 (Final Action) and 22APR2015 (Filing). Filing chart dates were unchanged across all four countries; applicants should compare priority dates to Chart A and B monthly.
