EB-3 Philippines Priority Date: June 2026 Update

Important: For June 2026, USCIS has announced whether it will use the Final Action Dates chart on the Visa Bulletin when determining which applicants are able to apply for adjustment of status for an employment-based Green Card.

If your priority date is between Aug. 1, 2023, and Jan. 1, 2024, you have a limited window to file for an adjustment of status. If the application is not received by USCIS before May 1, 2026, you’ll have to wait and track the Visa Bulletin to learn when a visa becomes available again.

The U.S. government caps the number of Green Cards issued each year, and no single country can have more than 7% of the total. For countries where visa demand is high, there is a backlog of applicants, and your priority date is your place in that line. The monthly Visa Bulletin is how you track when your date becomes current, so you can complete the last step to getting a Green Card.

What are the EB-3 priority dates for the Philippines?

A priority date is your official spot in line for a Green Card. For EB-3 applicants, this date is set when your employer files a labor certification, known as PERM, with the Department of Labor. If you’re applying for a Schedule A role, it’s the day USCIS receives your Form I-140 petition.

For the June 2026 Visa Bulletin, USCIS has confirmed that applicants should use the Final Action Dates chart to submit their applications. That means the priority date for EB-3 visa applicants from the Philippines is August 1, 2023. If your priority date is on or before Aug. 1, 2023, you’re eligible to file for your Green Card.

How to track your EB-3 priority date on the Visa Bulletin

Monitoring the monthly Visa Bulletin lets you know when you can file for a Green Card. Follow these steps to check:

1. Confirm the active chart. Every month, USCIS posts on its website whether you should use the Dates for Filing or the Final Action Dates chart to file for an adjustment of status within the U.S. For June 2026, USCIS has not yet confirmed that employment-based applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart.
2. Locate the correct table. On the Visa Bulletin website, look for the table titled “Final Action Dates of Employment-Based Visa Applications.” This table is the Final Action Dates chart for people inside the U.S. seeking permanent residency through their professional skills or career achievements. Applicants outside the U.S. going through consular processing use the Final Action Dates chart.
3. Find your category and country. Look for the “3rd” row, which represents the EB-3 category. Follow that row across to the column labeled “Philippines.” For June 2026, the date listed is Aug. 1, 2023.

If your priority date is the same or earlier than the date shown on the chart, you can move forward with your adjustment of status application. If your date is not current yet, you must wait for the date to move forward in a future Visa Bulletin.

Who should use the Other Workers chart on the Visa Bulletin?

When you look at the Visa Bulletin, you’ll notice that the EB-3 category has two separate rows:

• 3rd: Skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience, and professionals with a U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Other Workers: Positions that require less than two years of training or experience, including jobs in fields like caregiving, food service, hospitality, and manufacturing

While these roles all fall under the EB-3 visa, the Other Workers category has its own annual numerical limit of just 10,000 visas per fiscal year. That’s a smaller pool than for EB-3 skilled workers and professionals, meaning Other Workers may face longer waits.

Priority dates for EB-3 Other Workers from the Philippines

Why is there an EB-3 Green Card backlog for the Philippines?

The U.S. government limits the number of Green Cards it gives out each year. By law, one country can’t receive more than 7% of the total available employment-based visas in a single year.

For the Philippines, the number of skilled professionals seeking an EB-3 visa is higher than the 7% limit. When the demand from Filipino applicants exceeds the supply of visas, a backlog forms. This is essentially a long waiting list. Because of this high volume, the Visa Bulletin has specific columns for the Philippines and a few other countries that are oversubscribed.

What to do if your EB-3 priority date is current for the Philippines

When the Visa Bulletin shows your priority date is current, it’s time to take the final step toward your Green Card. Depending on where you live, you’ll follow one of two paths.

If you’re in the U.S.

Most professionals already working in the U.S. on a temporary visa, like an H-1B or O-1, will file Form I-485 for adjustment of status.

Once you file, you and your family can apply for employment authorization documents (EAD) and advance parole (travel documents) as needed.

If you’re outside the U.S.

If you’re living abroad, you’ll need to use the Final Action Date chart to determine if your priority date is current.

You’ll go through consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

1. The National Visa Center (NVC) will ask you to pay the necessary fees (usually $345 per person) and upload civil documents, like birth certificates and passports, to an online portal.
2. Once your paperwork is reviewed, you’ll attend an interview in your home country to receive your immigrant visa.

Porting your EB-3 priority date

If you’re frustrated by the wait for an EB-3 Green Card, consider switching to the EB-2 Green Card for individuals with exceptional abilities or advanced degrees. Or you may qualify under the EB-1A category, which is for people with “extraordinary ability,” such as top researchers, tech founders, or award-winning professionals.

If you qualify for a first- or second-preference category, it can mean getting a Green Card faster. And you can often port (reuse) your original EB-3 priority date for your new petition. This means you don’t lose the time you’ve already spent waiting.

The EB-1 line for the Philippines is usually years shorter than the EB-3 line. For example, in June 2026, the current EB-1 Final Action Date for the Philippines is current, while the EB-3 date is Aug. 1, 2023.

How to port your date

To use your earlier date, you must file a fresh Form I-140 petition for the EB-1 or EB-2 category. You should include a written statement and a copy of your previous I-797 approval notice to officially ask USCIS to apply your older EB-3 priority date to the new petition.

The path to an EB-3 visa from the Philippines

The wait for a Green Card can be long, especially for backlogged countries like the Philippines. Your priority date is the key to knowing when you can finally settle in the U.S. permanently. Tracking the monthly Visa Bulletin helps you stay ready to file the moment your date becomes current.

One mistake on a form can cause long delays, so working with an experienced immigration attorney is a smart move. A legal partner can help you prepare a strong application and potentially find faster paths, like moving to the EB-1 or EB-2 category.

If you’re ready for additional support and guidance for your journey, our immigration attorneys are here to help.

👉 Request a consultation with Manifest Law now.

Visa Bulletin resources:

• June 2026 Visa Bulletin Released
• May 2026 Visa Bulletin Released: USCIS Switches to Final Action Dates Chart
• April 2026 Visa Bulletin released, what it means for you
• What are filing dates vs. final action dates on the Visa Bulletin?
• What is a priority date?
• Priority date guide and news for EB-1 India and EB-2 India
• Priority date guide and news for EB-1 China and EB-2 China

FAQs about EB-3 priority dates

What if my EB-3 priority date is current?

When your priority date is current, you can file the final application for your Green Card.

How can I speed up my EB-3 visa processing?

While you cannot speed up the wait for a current priority date, the most effective way to get a faster decision on your visa petition is to use premium processing. That will guarantee a response to your initial petition within 15 business days.

Is EB-1 faster than EB-3?

Yes. If you’re from the Philippines, the wait for an EB-1 or EB-2 visa is usually about two years shorter than the wait for an EB-3 visa.

 Getting an EB-1 or EB-2 is usually faster than getting an EB-3. 

What is the approval rate for EB-3?

The FY 2025 overall approval rate for EB-3 petitions was nearly 98%.