Visa Bulletin
Is it true that F4 Philippines takes over 20 years?
Updated · Not legal advice
It can. F4 Philippines has for many years had one of the oldest cutoff dates in the Visa Bulletin, roughly two decades behind the calendar, and the cutoff only shows who is being processed now, not how long a new filer will wait.
F4: current cutoff dates
See the current bulletin for this month's F4 dates: official Visa Bulletin on travel.state.gov. We do not copy dates by hand, so this page shows them only after our automated fetch has read the official bulletin.
USCIS says family-based adjustment applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart in the November 2026 Visa Bulletin (USCIS filing charts).
How to read the snapshot
The gap shown (cutoff date to bulletin month) tells you how long the people now reaching the front of the line have waited. Someone filing today waits at least that long only if the line moves at the same speed; if demand grows, it can be longer.
Ways people shorten the wait
- If the beneficiary qualifies for another category (for example employment-based), a separate petition may be faster.
- Any change in category is a legal decision; get advice from an immigration attorney.
Quick answers
- Why is F4 Philippines so slow?
- Demand from the Philippines in F4 is far above its per-country share, so only a small number of the oldest priority dates can move each year.
- Is the wait the same for F4 all countries?
- No. Compare the All Chargeability column with the Philippines column in the snapshot above.
- Will I be notified when my date is current?
- NVC contacts applicants as dates approach, but many people also set up their own alerts.
What to do next
Get an email when F4 Philippines moves.
Watch F4Sources
Checked: November 12, 2026