F2B Visa Bulletin Dec 2025: Mexico, Philippines Action Dates Rise

(MEXICO/PHILIPPINES) Families in the F2B line for Mexico and the Philippines saw a meaningful but uneven shift between the November and December 2025 Visa Bulletins: only the Final Action Dates advanced, while the Dates for Filing stayed exactly the same. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this split movement means more cases can finish in December, but no new cases were invited to start paperwork beyond those already within the filing window.

Policy Shift Overview: November to December 2025

For the F2B category—defined in INA 203(a)(2)(B) as “Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents” and allocated 23% of the overall second preference limit—December brought two different realities:

• Final Action Dates (Chart A) moved:
  • Mexico: from 15DEC07 (November) to 15MAY08 (December) — about five months forward.
  • Philippines: from 01OCT12 (November) to 08OCT12 (December) — a seven-day step.
• Dates for Filing (Chart B) did not move:
  • Mexico: held at 15MAY09 in both November and December.
  • Philippines: held at 01OCT13 in both months.

Practical takeaway: more people crossed the finish line in December, but the starting line did not move. Mexico and the Philippines remain two of the most backlogged F2B chargeability areas, and both charts continue to reflect long queues.

How F2B Works and Why These Charts Matter

F2B is for adult, unmarried children of lawful permanent residents (green card holders), not U.S. citizens. Because Mexico and the Philippines are oversubscribed, the Visa Bulletin sets cut-off dates so visa usage stays within the annual worldwide limit and the per‑country ceiling. Two charts control progress:

• Final Action Dates (Chart A):
  • Decide when the government can actually issue immigrant visas abroad or when USCIS can approve an adjustment of status case in the United States.
  • Your case is “current” for final action when your priority date is earlier than the listed cut-off.
• Dates for Filing (Chart B):
  • Decide when you may start submitting documents (to the National Visa Center for consular processing, or to USCIS if the agency allows Chart B that month).
  • USCIS posts monthly guidance on whether people inside the U.S. may use the Filing chart instead of Final Action.

In short:
– Final Action Dates = finish line.
– Dates for Filing = start line to prepare your case.

Step-by-Step Journey for F2B Applicants (Mexico & Philippines)

Follow these steps to move through the system with clear expectations based on the November–December 2025 Bulletins.

1) Establish your place in line with Form I-130
– The process begins when the permanent resident petitioner files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Your spot in the queue is the I-130 “priority date,” usually the date USCIS receives the petition.
– Link: Form I-130 page on USCIS: Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

2) Track the Visa Bulletin every month
– Check where your priority date sits against the F2B Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for your country (Mexico or the Philippines).
– For November–December 2025, the only movement was on Final Action Dates. Filing dates remained the same, so the group that can start sending documents did not grow.

3) If you’re inside the United States
– Each month, USCIS announces whether you can use the Dates for Filing chart to submit an I-485 adjustment of status application earlier than the Final Action cut-off.
– If permitted, you may file the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, once your priority date is earlier than the Filing cut-off.
– Link: Form I-485 page on USCIS: Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

4) If you will process through a U.S. consulate
– Use the Dates for Filing to know when you can start sending documents to the National Visa Center (NVC), as instructed in your case notices.
– In November and December 2025, this remained:
– Mexico: 15MAY09
– Philippines: 01OCT13

5) Wait for the Final Action Date to reach you
– Your immigrant visa can be issued (or your I-485 can be approved) only when your priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date for your country.
– December 2025 Final Action cut-offs:
– Mexico: 15MAY08
– Philippines: 08OCT12

6) Government action when you’re current
– Once current, the government is ready to complete your case if your file is fully prepared and all checks are done.
– For consular cases, that means moving toward scheduling and issuance.
– For adjustment cases, USCIS can approve the green card.

7) Prepare for changes
– The Visa Bulletin can move forward or backward. The Department of State (DOS) may advance dates if there’s room under annual and per-country limits, or retrogress if demand is too high. In November–December 2025, both countries advanced at Final Action and saw no change at Filing.

Estimated timing notes based only on the source period:
– Movement in December 2025 added about five calendar months to Mexico’s Final Action window and seven days to the Philippines’ Final Action window. Filing windows did not change.

Month-to-Month Movement: What Changed and What It Means

November 2025 Final Action cut-offs for F2B:
– Mexico: 15DEC07
– Philippines: 01OCT12
– Reference row also showed: All Chargeability, China (mainland born), India: 01DEC16

December 2025 Final Action cut-offs for F2B:
– Mexico: 15MAY08
– Philippines: 08OCT12
– Reference row unchanged: All Chargeability, China (mainland born), India: 01DEC16

Examples of what this means:
– A Mexican F2B case with a priority date of 20 March 2008 was not current in November but became current in December.
– A Philippine F2B case with a priority date of 5 October 2012 crossed into current in December after being just outside the window in November.

November and December 2025 Dates for Filing cut-offs for F2B:
– Mexico: 15MAY09 (both months)
– Philippines: 01OCT13 (both months)
– Reference row in both months: All Chargeability, China (mainland born), India: 08MAR17

Because Chart B didn’t change:
– No new applicants in Mexico or the Philippines moved into the filing window in December.
– Those already within the filing window could continue preparing and submitting documents; everyone outside must keep waiting for a future bulletin.

Practical Scenarios Based on Your Priority Date

Use these examples to map your case to the December 2025 reality.

• F2B Mexico — priority date 10 April 2008:
  • November: not current for Final Action.
  • December: current, because 10 April 2008 is earlier than 15MAY08.
  • Action: If your file is complete, expect the government to be ready to finish your case in December.
• F2B Mexico — priority date 10 August 2008:
  • Filing: within the Filing window (cut-off 15MAY09).
  • Final Action: not yet current (cut-off 15MAY08).
  • Action: Keep documents moving with NVC (or prepare for I-485 filing if USCIS allows Chart B), then wait for Final Action to reach you later.
• F2B Philippines — priority date 5 October 2012:
  • November: not current.
  • December: current (earlier than 08OCT12).
  • Action: If fully documentarily qualified, the case can complete in December.
• F2B Philippines — priority date 20 November 2012:
  • Filing: within the Filing window (cut-off 01OCT13).
  • Final Action: not yet current (December cut-off 08OCT12).
  • Action: Prepare and submit documents as allowed. Wait for the Final Action Date to advance to your day.
• F2B Mexico — priority date 1 June 2009:
  • Filing: not yet eligible (after 15MAY09).
  • Action: Keep monitoring the monthly Visa Bulletin. You can’t send documents based on Filing Dates yet.

What to Expect from Authorities at Each Stage

• When you enter the Filing window:
  • The National Visa Center can accept your case materials for consular processing.
  • USCIS may accept your adjustment application if it’s a month where USCIS allows Dates for Filing inside the United States.
• While you wait for Final Action:
  • DOS and USCIS balance visa use against annual and per‑country limits. Forward movement opens the door to more issuances; retrogression can pause final decisions for some cases.
• When your date is current:
  • DOS is ready to issue your immigrant visa, or USCIS can approve your I-485—if your case is complete and cleared.

Managing Timing and Risks

• Forward movement is not guaranteed. DOS may set conservative or larger advances depending on demand. The five-month jump for Mexico and seven-day move for the Philippines in December show different demand and capacity patterns.
• The bulletins also warn that dates can be retrogressed or made unavailable if limits are met. Always prepare early so you’re ready when your day arrives.

Important: The December changes advanced Final Action Dates only. If your priority date is now current, be ready to complete your file immediately. If you’re still outside the windows, use this time to organize records so you can move quickly when your month arrives.

Action Checklists for December 2025

F2B Mexico
– Confirm your priority date against:
– Final Action Date: 15MAY08 (December 2025)
– Date for Filing: 15MAY09 (unchanged)
– If your priority date is:
– Earlier than 15MAY08: you’re current; be ready to finish if your case is complete.
– Between 16MAY08 and 15MAY09: you can file documents (Chart B) but must wait for final action in a later month.
– On or after 16MAY09: you’re outside both windows; keep checking future bulletins.

F2B Philippines
– Confirm your priority date against:
– Final Action Date: 08OCT12 (December 2025)
– Date for Filing: 01OCT13 (unchanged)
– If your priority date is:
– Earlier than 08OCT12: you’re current and can complete if ready.
– Between 09OCT12 and 01OCT13: you can submit documents but must wait to finish.
– On or after 02OCT13: you remain outside both windows for now.

Inside the United States
– Check USCIS’s monthly post to see if you can use Dates for Filing for I-485 submissions. If allowed and your priority date is earlier than the Filing cut-off, you may file the Form I-485 while waiting for Final Action to become current.
– Keep your address updated and respond promptly to any USCIS or NVC notices.

Outside the United States
– When the Filing Date covers you, follow NVC instructions to assemble and submit documents. When your Final Action Date is current, DOS can issue your visa if everything is complete.

Where to Check Official Updates and Forms

• Monthly Visa Bulletin (official Department of State): U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin
• Form I-130 (establish the family relationship and priority date): USCIS I-130
• Form I-485 (for eligible applicants inside the U.S. when USCIS allows Chart B or when Final Action is current): USCIS I-485

Why These Shifts Happened — And What They Signal

DOS sets cut-off dates based on the count of “documentarily qualified” cases—those that have completed required steps and wait only for a visa number—and the legal caps. Mexico’s roughly five-month advance suggests DOS could absorb a larger slice of Mexican F2B demand in December without hitting the annual or country ceilings. The Philippines’ seven-day move points to tighter balancing. Both are still forward moves, not retrogression, which is encouraging for families who have waited years.

At the same time, the unchanged Dates for Filing tell us DOS did not expand the pool of people who can submit documents ahead of final action for either country. That steady Filing horizon keeps the pipeline full without overloading it.

Bottom Line for December 2025

• F2B Mexico: More late‑2007 to mid‑2008 cases can finish now that the Final Action Date is 15MAY08, but the Date for Filing remains 15MAY09.
• F2B Philippines: A one‑week improvement brings the Final Action Date to 08OCT12, while the Date for Filing stays at 01OCT13.
• No change to Filing charts means your ability to start paperwork is the same as in November. The progress in December is solely at the finishing stage.

Families should keep watching each monthly bulletin, match their priority dates to both charts, and be ready to act the moment their case falls within the right window. If you hold a priority date in the newly current ranges, December is your chance to complete the journey—provided your file is ready. If you’re still outside the windows, use this time to organize records so you can move quickly when your month finally arrives.