Mexico and Philippines F3 Cutoffs Retrogress in Nov–Dec 2025

(MEXICO / PHILIPPINES) Families in the F3 category—married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens—face major shifts between November 2025 and December 2025. The F3 cutoff dates for both Mexico and the Philippines change sharply, with especially deep backward movement in the Final Action Dates. In November, Mexico’s F3 Final Action Date sits at 08SEP2011 and the Philippines at 01OCT2012. In December, those dates retrogress to 01MAY2001 for Mexico and 01NOV2004 for the Philippines.

On the filing side, Mexico’s F3 Date for Filing moves from 22JUL2012 back to 01JUL2001, while the Philippines holds steady at 01NOV2005 across both months. These moves matter because they control who may receive a visa, and who can send documents to the National Visa Center, month by month.

F3 Category Basics and Why Cutoff Dates Exist

Under Section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the F3 category is defined as “Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.” Because demand exceeds the available visas, the Department of State sets monthly F3 cutoff dates.

Two charts in the Visa Bulletin govern this process:

• Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases: Visa issuance or green card approval may occur only if your priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date.
• Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications: Controls when you may submit documents for consular processing to the National Visa Center (NVC), or—if USCIS permits for that month—file for adjustment of status in the U.S.

When a date appears in either chart, the category is oversubscribed. “C” means current (no backlog); “U” means unavailable. The visa prorating rules in Section 202(e) apply to oversubscribed countries, which include China–mainland born, India, Mexico, and the Philippines. That is why Mexico and the Philippines often have their own, earlier F3 dates compared with “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.”

Exactly What Changed Between November and December 2025

Here are the precise numbers provided for the two months:

• November 2025 — Final Action Dates (F3):
  • Mexico: 08SEP2011
  • Philippines: 01OCT2012
• November 2025 — Dates for Filing (F3):
  • Mexico: 22JUL2012
  • Philippines: 01NOV2005
• December 2025 — Final Action Dates (F3):
  • Mexico: 01MAY2001
  • Philippines: 01NOV2004
• December 2025 — Dates for Filing (F3):
  • Mexico: 01JUL2001
  • Philippines: 01NOV2005

The size of these movements is striking. Mexico’s Final Action Date retrogresses by roughly ten years and four months, and its Date for Filing pulls back by more than eleven years. For the Philippines, the Final Action Date falls back by almost eight years, while the Date for Filing stays fixed.

What These Charts Mean for Your Case, in Plain Language

Think of the two charts as two gates, each with a distinct purpose:

• The Final Action gate opens only for applicants with a priority date earlier than the listed Final Action Date. If your date isn’t earlier, you cannot receive a visa number in that month.
• The Filing gate opens for applicants with a priority date earlier than the Date for Filing. If your date is earlier, you may send documents to the NVC (and, if USCIS permits that month, file for adjustment of status). Submitting documents early helps the government prepare files even when the Final Action gate is still closed.

Because the Final Action gate moved much earlier for both Mexico and the Philippines in December, many families who were within reach in November must step back and wait again.

Key takeaway: The Final Action date controls visa issuance; the Date for Filing controls when you can submit paperwork. Retrogression delays visa issuance without changing your priority date.

Step-by-Step: How to Handle Your Case in This Two-Month Window

1) Confirm your F3 priority date
Your priority date is the filing date of the family petition that placed you in F3. You’ll compare this against both charts.

2) Check both charts for the correct month
– For November 2025:
– Mexico — Final Action: 08SEP2011; Filing: 22JUL2012
– Philippines — Final Action: 01OCT2012; Filing: 01NOV2005
– For December 2025:
– Mexico — Final Action: 01MAY2001; Filing: 01JUL2001
– Philippines — Final Action: 01NOV2004; Filing: 01NOV2005

3) Decide what you can do this month
– If your priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date → eligible for visa issuance / final approval.
– If your priority date is earlier than the Date for Filing → you may assemble and submit documents to the NVC (subject to USCIS rules for AOS).

4) If you could file in November but not in December
– Mexico F3: Priority dates from 01JUL2001 to 21JUL2012 could file in November but not in December (December’s Date for Filing is 01JUL2001).
– Philippines F3: The Date for Filing remains 01NOV2005, so filing eligibility does not change.

5) If you were current for Final Action in November but not in December
– Mexico F3: Priority dates from 01MAY2001 to 07SEP2011 were current in November but not in December.
– Philippines F3: Priority dates from 01NOV2004 to 30SEP2012 were current in November but not in December.

6) Monitor the next bulletin and stay responsive
The Department updates these charts monthly. Watch for new movements and respond quickly when your priority date becomes earlier than the listed cutoff date.

What the Government Does Each Month, and Why Dates Move

Each month:

• Consular officers and USCIS report applicants who are documentarily qualified.
• The Department of State allocates visa numbers in priority-date order “to the extent possible,” based on demand reports by a given cut-off.
• If demand exceeds supply for a country or category, the Department sets a Final Action Date.
• If necessary, dates may retrogress to remain within annual limits. If an annual limit is reached, the category becomes “unavailable.”

Because Mexico and the Philippines are oversubscribed for F3, a growth in demand or in the documentarily qualified queue can force abrupt retrogression. The December 2025 pullbacks match the bulletin’s described retrogression mechanics—when numbers are tight, dates move backward. Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that month-to-month adjustments are a standard tool the Department uses to balance demand against statutory caps.

Focused Guidance for Mexican F3 Families

• November 2025:
  • Final Action Date: 08SEP2011
  • Date for Filing: 22JUL2012
• December 2025:
  • Final Action Date: 01MAY2001
  • Date for Filing: 01JUL2001

What this means in practice:
– If your PD is 2009: November allowed final action; December does not. Your case pauses until the Final Action Date advances again.
– If your PD is 2005: December allows final action only if your PD is earlier than 01MAY2001—otherwise you must wait.
– If your PD is 2010: You could submit documents in November (earlier than 22JUL2012) but are outside the December filing window because of the new 01JUL2001 line.

Key expectation:
– This is a severe contraction. The pool allowed to file or receive visas shrinks to applicants with very early priority dates. If you were preparing to file based on November’s wider window, you must hold your package if it wasn’t accepted before the month ended.

Focused Guidance for Philippine F3 Families

• November 2025:
  • Final Action Date: 01OCT2012
  • Date for Filing: 01NOV2005
• December 2025:
  • Final Action Date: 01NOV2004
  • Date for Filing: 01NOV2005 (unchanged)

What this means in practice:
– If your PD is 2010: November allowed final action; December does not. Visa issuance must wait.
– If your PD is October 2004: You remain current in both months.
– If your PD falls between 01NOV2004 and 31OCT2005: You can file in both months (earlier than 01NOV2005), but you’re not current in December for final action.

Key expectation:
– Filing availability remains stable, but the action side retreats, increasing the waiting time after you file.

What to Do If Your Case Retrogresses After You’ve Filed

• If you submitted documents when your priority date met the Date for Filing, your case stays in the queue for processing.
• If your case was ready for final action in November but not in December, you keep your priority date. You don’t lose your place in line; you simply wait until the Final Action Date advances.
• Keep your contact details updated with the NVC so you can respond quickly when your date becomes current again.

Why These Differences Matter to Families

Large retrogressions change near-term plans. A family that expected an interview or approval in late 2025 may now face a longer wait. For Mexico, both issuance and filing gates move drastically earlier, shutting out many who were within reach in November. For the Philippines, the filing gate stays the same, but actual visa issuance becomes available only to people with much older priority dates.

The system’s design—allocating numbers by oldest priority dates first—explains this result. When demand surges or the documentarily qualified queue grows, the Department must slow the flow by moving F3 cutoff dates back.

Practical Checklist You Can Use This Month

• Verify your priority date and compare it to both charts for the current month.
• If you’re earlier than the Date for Filing, prepare to submit documents to the NVC as instructed.
• If you’re earlier than the Final Action Date, be ready for steps toward visa issuance or final approval.
• If you were eligible in November but not in December, set alerts for the next Visa Bulletin and be ready to act when your date becomes current again.
• Keep records organized so you can move quickly when the gate opens.

Where to Check Official Monthly Updates

The monthly Visa Bulletin is the official source for Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. You can review the latest charts on the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html. The bulletin explains how demand reports from consular posts and USCIS drive month-to-month adjustments, and it clarifies that if retrogression is required, only cases with priority dates earlier than the newly published Final Action Date can receive numbers that month.

Key Numbers at a Glance for Fast Reference

• Mexico F3:
  • November 2025 — Final Action: 08SEP2011; Filing: 22JUL2012
  • December 2025 — Final Action: 01MAY2001; Filing: 01JUL2001
• Philippines F3:
  • November 2025 — Final Action: 01OCT2012; Filing: 01NOV2005
  • December 2025 — Final Action: 01NOV2004; Filing: 01NOV2005

These shifts show how quickly the F3 cutoff dates can change. For Mexican applicants, both gates move more than a decade backward. For Philippine applicants, the Date for Filing stays steady while the Final Action gate retreats by nearly eight years.

Understanding the Policy Logic Behind These Movements

The bulletin’s logic is straightforward: visa numbers are allocated in priority-date order within statutory limits. When demand exceeds supply, the Department sets and adjusts cutoff dates. Retrogression is not a penalty; it’s a control to stay within caps. The oversubscribed status of Mexico and the Philippines under Section 202(e) makes sharp movements possible when newly reported demand arrives or when the qualified pipeline grows faster than expected.

By grounding your decisions in the current Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing, staying organized, and checking the Visa Bulletin every month, you can respond quickly when your window opens—whether for filing or final action.