Policy Updates

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2026-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2024-04-01 to 2024-10-15 in the 2026-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Filipino EB-2 applicants will be subject to the new mandatory DOJ criminal history record information (CHRI) checks. While not currently facing the same backlog as India or China, the additional vetting step will become a standard part of their petition adjudication.

As EB-2 priority dates are no longer current for the rest of the world, Filipino applicants are increasingly using premium processing to ensure timely adjudication before further retrogression occurs. This fee increase raises the barrier for professionals seeking to stabilize their status.

While the Philippines generally has shorter wait times than India or China, the investigation's focus on EB-2 fraud will result in slower adjudication for all applicants. Increased scrutiny of employer-employee relationships and job requirements will likely extend the time from filing to approval.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2026-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2024-02-01 to 2024-04-01 in the 2026-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

While not as backlogged as India or China in the EB-2 category, Filipino applicants will face slower processing of I-485 applications due to the enhanced screening requirements mandated by the memo.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2025-12)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2023-12-01 to 2024-02-01 in the 2025-12 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

While the backlog for the Philippines is less severe than for India or China, applicants are still subject to general EB-2 retrogression. The fee hike increases the financial barrier for professionals, particularly in the healthcare and tech sectors.

While the Philippines typically has shorter wait times than India or China, the partial stay on the 2024 Fee Rule affects the total cost of filing for all EB-2 petitions. Employers must ensure the correct fee is submitted to avoid processing delays in a category that has recently seen increased scrutiny.

The transition to electronic payments is a procedural update that aligns with broader USCIS modernization efforts. While it requires a shift from traditional payment methods, it is expected to reduce manual processing errors for applicants from the Philippines.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2025-10)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2023-09-01 to 2023-12-01 in the 2025-10 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

While the Philippines typically has shorter wait times, the enhanced verification protocols will increase the likelihood of audits and processing delays. Applicants must ensure higher levels of documentation for bona fide job offers to avoid denials under the new enforcement standards.

While the Philippines does not currently face the same level of EB-2 retrogression as India, the increase in prevailing wage levels will make it more difficult for U.S. employers to justify the PERM process for Filipino professionals, particularly in mid-level roles.

Filipino applicants in the EB-2 category, particularly those in specialized healthcare or management roles, will face stricter verification of their degree equivalencies. The presence of special agents aims to ensure that advanced degree claims are supported by legitimate, accredited institutions.

The shift to electronic funds allows for faster confirmation of payment for EB-2 filings. This modernization helps prevent delays in the issuance of receipt notices, which is critical for applicants tracking their status in a competitive visa category.

While often associated with EB-3, many Filipino professionals utilize EB-2 for advanced roles. Enforcement against misrepresentation in PERM filings or professional experience letters will be a key focus for this group to ensure the integrity of the labor market test.

While all EB-2 applicants are subject to the new memo, Filipino applicants are not currently viewed as a high-risk group for 'Anti-Americanism.' The primary impact will be a slight increase in overall processing times due to the additional screening step.

While the Philippines often has shorter wait times than India or China, recent global EB-2 retrogression has increased the risk of age-outs. This policy ensures that children are protected as soon as the applicant is eligible to file their adjustment of status.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-2 Philippines (2025-08)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2023-10-15 to 2023-09-01 in the 2025-08 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.

While not as severely backlogged as India or China, Filipino applicants are currently subject to 'Rest of World' retrogression. The fee update increases the cost of the initial filing during a period of increased uncertainty regarding visa availability.

While the Philippines does not currently face the same EB-2 backlog as India or China, this policy ensures that applicants are granted due process through transparent disclosure of derogatory information during the petition phase.

While the Philippines EB-2 backlog is less severe than India or China, recent retrogression trends mean applications may stay pending longer. This policy prevents the need for a second medical exam if the visa bulletin stalls.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2025-06)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2023-06-22 to 2023-10-15 in the 2025-06 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2025-04)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2023-05-15 to 2023-06-22 in the 2025-04 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2025-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2023-04-01 to 2023-05-15 in the 2025-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Filipino applicants in the EB-2 category will experience a more straightforward adjustment of status process. By removing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, USCIS reduces the burden on applicants to provide specific historical vaccination records or seek waivers during their medical appointments.

While many Filipino applicants use the EB-3 category, the NIW update makes the EB-2 category more accessible for those with advanced degrees, allowing them to avoid the lengthy PERM process which is often a bottleneck in Philippine immigration processing.

While the Philippines often sees more impact in EB-3, EB-2 applicants are now subject to the global cutoff dates. New filing procedures must be followed to ensure that I-140 petitions are successfully receipted to lock in priority dates.

While the Philippines generally faces less EB-2 retrogression than India or China, the closure requires rescheduling of interviews and biometrics. This causes a brief pause in the final adjudication of I-485 applications for those with appointments on Jan. 9.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2025-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2023-03-15 to 2023-04-01 in the 2025-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2024-07)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2023-01-15 to 2023-03-15 in the 2024-07 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2024-04)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-11-22 to 2023-01-15 in the 2024-04 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2024-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-11-15 to 2022-11-22 in the 2024-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2024-02)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-11-01 to 2022-11-15 in the 2024-02 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2024-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-07-15 to 2022-11-01 in the 2024-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2023-11)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-07-08 to 2022-07-15 in the 2023-11 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2023-10)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-07-01 to 2022-07-08 in the 2023-10 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2023-09)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-04-01 to 2022-07-01 in the 2023-09 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Philippines (2023-08)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-02-15 to 2022-04-01 in the 2023-08 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-2 Philippines (2023-05)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-07-01 to 2022-02-15 in the 2023-05 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-2 Philippines (2023-04)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-2 Final Action Date for Philippines chargeability from 2022-11-01 to 2022-07-01 in the 2023-04 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.