US Visa from Philippines 2026 - NCLEX, EB-3, DV Lottery & Tourist

More than 4 million Filipino Americans live in the US - the largest Asian American group after Chinese and Indian communities. Crucially, the Philippines is not on the 75-country freeze list, so all immigrant pathways remain open. There are three main routes:

1. NCLEX → EB-3: the classic Filipino-American nursing pipeline to a green card.
2. DV lottery: the Philippines is eligible, unlike India and China.
3. Family petition (I-130): millions of Filipino families have US relatives who can sponsor them.

1. Pass the NCLEX-RN at Pearson VUE Manila or Cebu.
2. Obtain CGFNS certification (credential evaluation).
3. Get a VisaScreen certificate from ICHP.
4. A US healthcare employer files an EB-3 immigrant petition (I-140).
5. The green card is issued after consular processing - 12-24 months total.

• The Philippines IS eligible for the Diversity Visa lottery (unlike India and China, which are excluded for high immigration volume).
• DV-2026 registration runs on the official schedule and DV-2026 selectees must complete processing before September 30, 2026.
• It is free to enter at dvprogram.state.gov - never pay an agent to "register" you.

Full detail is in the DV-2026 diversity visa lottery guide.

The B1/B2 visitor visa covers tourism, family visits, and business trips. Filipino approval rates are relatively high, and appointment waits at the US Embassy in Manila are currently around 3-6 months - far shorter than in many countries.

• Complete the DS-160 form and pay the $185 fee.
• Book an interview at the US Embassy in Manila.
• Bring proof of strong ties to the Philippines - employment, property, family - to show you will return.
• Be consistent: your DS-160, interview answers, and documents must all match.

Family reunification is one of the largest US pathways for Filipinos. A US citizen or green card holder files an I-130 petition for a relative. Immediate relatives of US citizens (spouse, parents, unmarried children under 21) have no annual cap. Other categories - siblings, married children - face long backlogs that the monthly visa bulletin tracks.

Track category movement in the visa bulletin tracker.

Filipino software developers, engineers, and other specialists can work in the US on an H-1B visa if a US employer sponsors them and they are selected in the annual lottery. The H-1B can later be converted to an EB-2 or EB-3 green card.

See the H-1B to green card guide and H-1B alternatives.

Most US visa interviews for Filipinos take place at the US Embassy in Manila. Pearson VUE testing for NCLEX is available in both Manila and Cebu. Choose your NCLEX centre for convenience - the licensure result is identical wherever you sit the exam.

Filipino Americans are concentrated in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas, and the New York metro area. Established communities, Filipino professional associations, and church networks make settling in the US far easier than starting from zero - an advantage few other nationalities have at this scale.

1. Decide your pathway: nursing (NCLEX → EB-3), DV lottery, family petition, or H-1B.
2. For nursing: start CGFNS and NCLEX review immediately.
3. For DV: enter free during the official registration window.
4. For family: have your US relative file the I-130 as early as possible - backlogs are long.
5. Prepare strong documentation and consistent answers for any consular interview.