F2A Final Action Dates Unmoved from November to December 2025

Immediate status for F2A applicants: no movement in Final Action Dates from November to December 2025

The December 2025 Visa Bulletin keeps the F2A Final Action Dates exactly where they stood in November 2025 across all chargeability areas. The cut‑offs remain: All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed: 01FEB24, China (mainland born): 01FEB24, India: 01FEB24, Mexico: 01FEB23, and Philippines: 01FEB24. There is no forward movement and no retrogression for any country. If your family’s priority date and case posture were the same in November, they remain the same in December. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this steady posture across all chargeability areas is what many families will see reflected when comparing the two monthly charts.

How to read the Visa Bulletin for F2A without guesswork

The Visa Bulletin publishes two charts for family categories:

• Final Action Dates (Chart A): These dates control when an immigrant visa or adjustment of status can actually be approved. If your priority date is earlier than the listed date for your country, a visa number is available and authorities can take final action.
• Dates for Filing (Chart B): These dates tell you when you may send in visa or adjustment documents. For consular cases, this means the National Visa Center (NVC) can accept your packet. For adjustment of status, you can file only if USCIS announces that Chart B is open for family categories that month.

For F2A, the December 2025 Final Action Dates are:

• All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed: 01FEB24
• China (mainland born): 01FEB24
• India: 01FEB24
• Mexico: 01FEB23
• Philippines: 01FEB24

The December bulletin also repeats a key note used in November: F2A numbers that are exempt from per‑country limits are authorized for applicants with priority dates earlier than 01FEB23; numbers that are subject to per‑country limits (for all except Mexico) are available for priority dates from 01FEB23 up to but earlier than 01FEB24; and all Mexico F2A numbers are exempt.

Why these dates matter and what each band means

The F2A category covers spouses and minor children of permanent residents, under Section 203(a)(2)(A) of the INA. It’s a high-priority family category with numerical limits, so cut‑off dates control who can be approved in a given month.

• If your priority date is earlier than 01FEB23:
  • You fall within the exempt pool. In both November and December 2025, visa numbers are authorized worldwide for these cases. If your case was ready in November, it remains eligible in December.
• If your priority date is from 01FEB23 through 31JAN24 (inclusive of 01FEB23 and exclusive of 01FEB24):
  • For all countries except Mexico, numbers are available under the per‑country limits. You were current in November and stay current in December.
  • For Mexico, there is no per‑country‑limited pool; all numbers are exempt. So Mexican F2A cases dated on or after 01FEB23 are not yet within the authorized exempt range.
• If your priority date is on or after 01FEB24:
  • You were not current in November and you’re still not current in December. There is no expansion of the window to cover newer dates.

Side‑by‑side checkpoint: November vs. December 2025 for F2A Final Action Dates

• All Chargeability, China, India, Philippines: 01FEB24 in November; 01FEB24 in December. No movement.
• Mexico: 01FEB23 in November; 01FEB23 in December. No movement.

Both bulletins carry the same explanatory paragraph for F2A, using the same three markers—earlier than 01FEB23, starting 01FEB23, and earlier than 01FEB24—which confirms the freeze month over month.

Step‑by‑step: What F2A applicants should do now

Follow this process to know exactly where you stand and what to do in December 2025.

1. Confirm your priority date and chargeability
   • Find your I‑130 filing date (or the date assigned when the petition was received). That’s your priority date.
   • Identify your chargeability area as shown in the Visa Bulletin: “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed,” China (mainland born), India, Mexico, or Philippines.
2. Match your priority date to the December Final Action chart
   • If your date is earlier than 01FEB23: You’re inside the exempt pool that’s authorized for issuance worldwide in December.
   • If your date is 01FEB23 to 31JAN24 and your country is not Mexico: You’re inside the per‑country window that’s authorized in December.
   • If your date is Mexico and on or after 01FEB23: You’re outside the exempt range and must wait for movement.
   • If your date is on or after 01FEB24 (any country): You must wait; you’re not current yet.
3. Check the Dates for Filing chart for document submission
   • The F2A “Dates for Filing” moved from 22OCT25 (November) to 22NOV25 (December) for all chargeability areas.
   • This means document submission eligibility advanced by about one month, even though Final Action Dates did not move.
   • Remember: For adjustment of status, you can use Chart B only if USCIS announces it for family categories that month.

1. Take the correct action based on your status
   • If you’re current under Final Action Dates:
     • Be ready for final steps. If you’re pursuing consular processing, the NVC or consulate may move to schedule your interview or request any last items. If you’re adjusting status, USCIS may move to approve when your case is otherwise ready.
   • If you’re current under Dates for Filing but not under Final Action:
     • Submit your civil and financial documents to NVC if requested, or file adjustment of status only if USCIS is using Chart B. You won’t receive final approval until your priority date becomes earlier than the Final Action cut‑off.
   • If you’re not current under either chart:
     • Keep your contact details current, gather records, and track the monthly Visa Bulletin for movement.
2. Keep your case “documentarily complete”
   • When you’re eligible to send documents, respond fully so your case is ready for final action as soon as a number is available. This prevents last‑minute delays once you become current.

Practical scenarios to make sense of the dates

• Case A (All Chargeability, PD 15JAN23): Your PD is earlier than 01FEB23, so you were current in November and remain current in December under the exempt pool. If your case is ready, officials can approve it now.
• Case B (India, PD 01JUN23): You’re within 01FEB23–01FEB24, so you’re current in both November and December under the per‑country limits. You should focus on completing any remaining steps so final action can occur.
• Case C (Mexico, PD 15MAR23): Mexico uses only exempt numbers for F2A and those are authorized for PDs earlier than 01FEB23 in both months. You remain outside the authorized range in December and must wait for future movement.
• Case D (Philippines, PD 10FEB24): Your PD is on or after 01FEB24, so you’re not current in November or December. Watch for future changes in the F2A Final Action Dates.
• Case E (All Chargeability, PD 05NOV25): You’re far beyond Final Action Dates, but the F2A “Dates for Filing” shifted from 22OCT25 to 22NOV25. If USCIS allows Chart B for family that month, you may be able to submit an adjustment package even though final approval must wait.

Understanding the per‑country language and Mexico’s different treatment

Both November and December bulletins split F2A numbers into two pools:

• Exempt from per‑country limits: authorized for priority dates earlier than 01FEB23.
• Subject to per‑country limits: authorized for priority dates beginning 01FEB23 and earlier than 01FEB24, for all countries except Mexico.
• Mexico uses only exempt numbers. As a result, Mexico’s effective Final Action Date anchors at 01FEB23, matching the exempt cut‑off.

For all other chargeability areas, the Final Action Date sits at the top edge of the subject‑to‑per‑country window, which is 01FEB24, and that top edge did not move between November and December.

What to expect from authorities when your date is current vs. not current

When you’re current under Final Action Dates:
– Consular cases: The NVC may proceed with interview scheduling if your case is complete. The consulate can approve your visa if no more checks or documents are needed.
– Adjustment of status cases: USCIS can take final action when a visa number is available and your file is ready. If more evidence is needed, you may receive a request to provide it before approval.

When you’re not current under Final Action Dates but can file under Dates for Filing:
– NVC may accept your civil documents and affidavit of support so your case becomes “documentarily qualified.”
– If USCIS has opened Chart B for the month, you may be able to file your adjustment package even though approval must wait until Final Action Dates cover your PD.

When neither chart covers you:
– Expect to wait. Keep your records and contact details updated, and check the bulletin every month.

The role of the monthly bulletin and where to confirm the charts

The Visa Bulletin is issued monthly by the U.S. Department of State. For the official charts and explanatory notes, review the latest post on the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin. The F2A Final Action Dates and the F2A “Dates for Filing” are listed in the family‑sponsored tables, along with the F2A explanatory paragraph that defines exempt numbers, subject‑to‑per‑country numbers, and Mexico’s exemption treatment.

Dates for Filing advanced while Final Action stayed frozen

Between November and December 2025, F2A “Dates for Filing” moved from 22OCT25 to 22NOV25 across all chargeability areas. That change can let some families send documents sooner, but it does not allow final approval. Final Action Dates stayed fixed at 01FEB24 (worldwide, China, India, Philippines) and 01FEB23 (Mexico). This is a common source of confusion: filing eligibility can move even when approval eligibility does not. Always check which chart you’re using and remember that only the Final Action Dates control the ability to approve a green card.

Managing expectations and keeping your case ready

• Match your priority date to the correct chart each month. The difference between being current for filing and for final action is critical.
• If you’re current now, act quickly on any open requests from NVC or USCIS so approval isn’t delayed.
• If you’re current for filing only, get your documents in order and submit when allowed so you’re ready the moment a number becomes available.
• If you’re not current at all, use this time to organize civil records and maintain valid passports, so you avoid last‑minute scrambles when movement occurs.

Why a “no‑movement” month still matters

A month with no movement in F2A Final Action Dates tells you that:
– The same families who were current in November remain current in December.
– No newer priority dates become eligible for approval in December.
– Mexico remains anchored to the earlier 01FEB23 date because all its F2A usage is from the exempt pool.
– The internal structure of F2A (exempt pool up to 01FEB23, per‑country‑limited pool up to just before 01FEB24 for non‑Mexico chargeability areas) is unchanged.

For families watching closely, this stability can reduce short‑term uncertainty. You can plan December tasks knowing your status against the cut‑offs is unchanged from November.

Quick reference: What to do based on your priority date

• PD earlier than 01FEB23 (any country):
  • You’re authorized for issuance in both months. Ensure your case is complete and respond to any final requests.
• PD 01FEB23–31JAN24 (All Chargeability, China, India, Philippines):
  • You’re current for final action. Finish any pending steps so approval can proceed.
• PD 01FEB23 or later (Mexico):
  • You’re not yet within the exempt authorization range. Keep your case ready and monitor future bulletins.
• PD 01FEB24 or later (any country):
  • You’re outside the Final Action cut‑offs. Watch for movement in future months.
• Filing‑only movement:
  • F2A “Dates for Filing” advanced from 22OCT25 to 22NOV25. Use this if you’re eligible to submit documents now, understanding approval still depends on Final Action Dates.

By staying focused on the exact F2A Final Action Dates and using the filing chart wisely, families can keep momentum even in a month with no approval‑window movement.