The U.S. Department of State has released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin. Several family-sponsored categories moved forward by a year, while some employment-based categories also advanced.
The changes are different for each category and country group. Some applicants may now be closer to filing their Green Card application or receiving a final decision. Others will continue to wait.
To understand what November’s dates mean for you, check your immigration category, your priority date and the country column that applies to your case.
First, Understand the Two Charts
The Visa Bulletin includes two charts. Each covers a different stage of the process:
Dates for Filing: For applicants going through a U.S. embassy or consulate, this chart shows when they may submit required documents after receiving instructions from the National Visa Center (NVC). For applicants inside the United States, USCIS decides each month whether this chart can be used to file Form I-485.
Final Action Dates: This chart shows when a visa number may be available for a Green Card or immigrant visa to be approved, as long as the applicant meets the other requirements.
Being able to file does not mean your case can be approved right away. You need to check both charts and understand which one applies to your next step.
What Is a Priority Date?
Your priority date establishes your place in the visa waiting line. In family-sponsored cases, it is usually the date USCIS received a properly filed Form I-130. In employment-based cases, it may be the date the Department of Labor accepted the required labor certification application or the date USCIS received the relevant immigrant petition.
You can usually find your priority date on the Form I-797 notice for your immigrant petition. When reading the charts:
Your priority date must be earlier than the listed cutoff date.
C means Current: There is no priority-date cutoff for that category and country group.
U means Unavailable: Visa numbers are not available for that category that month.
For example, if the cutoff is April 1, 2025, a priority date of March 31, 2025 meets the date requirement. A priority date of April 1, 2025 does not.
Which Country Column Should You Use?
The charts have separate columns for mainland China, India, Mexico and the Philippines. Applicants assigned to other countries generally use the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column, shown below as “All Other Countries.”
Your country group is usually based on where you were born, rather than your citizenship or where you currently live. Exceptions may apply, including cases where an applicant can use a spouse’s country of birth.
The November dates were calculated using reported demand received through October 5, 2026.
Family-Sponsored Categories
The family preference categories cover the following relatives:
F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens who are 21 or older.
F2A: Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of Green Card holders.
F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters of Green Card holders who are 21 or older.
F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
F4: Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens who are at least 21.
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens, as well as parents of U.S. citizens who are at least 21, generally fall under the separate “immediate relative” category. They are not subject to the annual visa limits for these family preference categories.
Family-Sponsored Final Action Dates
| Category | All Other Countries | China (mainland-born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jan 22, 2021 | Jan 22, 2021 | Jan 22, 2021 | Sep 22, 2008 | Nov 1, 2013 |
| F2A | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 22, 2026 | Apr 22, 2026 | Oct 22, 2026 |
| F2B | Aug 22, 2020 | Aug 22, 2020 | Aug 22, 2020 | May 15, 2010 | Oct 1, 2013 |
| F3 | Oct 22, 2015 | Oct 22, 2015 | Oct 22, 2015 | Jul 15, 2001 | Jul 22, 2006 |
| F4 | Oct 22, 2012 | Oct 22, 2012 | Dec 15, 2006 | Apr 22, 2001 | May 15, 2008 |
For All Other Countries, F1, F2B, F3 and F4 advanced by one year compared with October. The same one-year advances apply to China in all four categories, and to India in F1, F2B and F3.
F2A advanced by one month in every country group. Mexico’s F1 and F3 dates moved forward by 14 days. The remaining family Final Action Dates did not change.
These advances may allow more applicants to meet the visa-number requirement for final approval. Interview availability, complete documents and all other eligibility requirements still matter.
Family-Sponsored Dates for Filing
| Category | All Other Countries | China (mainland-born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Feb 1, 2021 | Feb 1, 2021 | Feb 1, 2021 | Dec 1, 2008 | Apr 22, 2015 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | Sep 1, 2020 | Sep 1, 2020 | Sep 1, 2020 | Mar 22, 2011 | Oct 1, 2014 |
| F3 | Nov 1, 2015 | Nov 1, 2015 | Nov 1, 2015 | Dec 1, 2002 | Oct 22, 2006 |
| F4 | Nov 1, 2012 | Nov 1, 2012 | Feb 1, 2007 | Apr 30, 2001 | Mar 22, 2009 |
F1, F2B, F3 and F4 filing dates advanced by one year for All Other Countries and China. India’s F1, F2B and F3 filing dates also advanced by one year. India’s F4 date and the filing dates for Mexico and the Philippines did not change.
F2A remains Current on the filing chart for every country group. It still has cutoff dates on the Final Action chart, so being Current for filing does not mean a Green Card can be approved immediately.
Employment-Based Categories
The employment-based categories include:
EB-1: People with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational executives and managers.
EB-2: Members of professions requiring advanced degrees and people with exceptional ability. National Interest Waiver (NIW) cases are included in this category.
EB-3: Professionals and skilled workers.
Other Workers: A separate group within EB-3 with its own cutoff dates.
EB-4: Certain special immigrant categories.
EB-5: Investors who meet the program’s investment and job-creation requirements.
Employment-Based Final Action Dates
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 01AUG23 | 01FEB23 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 01APR25 | 01OCT21 | 01NOV13 | 01APR25 | 01APR25 |
| EB-3 | 15JUN24 | 22JAN22 | 22JAN14 | 15JUN24 | 15AUG23 |
| Other Workers | 01JUN22 | 01OCT19 | 22JAN14 | 01JUN22 | 01JAN22 |
| EB-4 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C | 01DEC16 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| EB-5 Rural | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 High Unemployment | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 Infrastructure | C | C | C | C | C |
EB-1 Remains Current for Several Country Groups
EB-1 remains Current for All Other Countries, Mexico and the Philippines. Applicants in these groups do not face a priority-date cutoff in this category.
China’s cutoff advanced by one month to August 1, 2023. India’s date stayed at February 1, 2023.
EB-2 and NIW: Three Months Forward for Several Groups
The EB-2 Final Action Date advanced to April 1, 2025 for All Other Countries, Mexico and the Philippines, a three-month improvement from October.
Applicants in these groups with priority dates before April 1, 2025 may now meet the visa-number requirement for final approval, if they meet all other requirements. This also applies to NIW cases within EB-2.
China’s cutoff stayed at October 1, 2021, and India’s remained November 1, 2013.
EB-3 Advances Differ by Country
EB-3 moved forward by one month to June 15, 2024 for All Other Countries and Mexico.
China’s date advanced by 14 days to January 22, 2022. India’s date advanced by 21 days to January 22, 2014. The Philippines remained at August 15, 2023.
Other Workers: Five Months Forward for Two Groups
The Other Workers Final Action Date advanced by five months to June 1, 2022 for All Other Countries and Mexico.
India’s date advanced by 21 days to January 22, 2014. China remained at October 1, 2019, and the Philippines stayed at January 1, 2022.
Although Other Workers is part of EB-3, it has a separate line in the bulletin. Check that line if it applies to your case.
EB-4 and EB-5 Dates Stay the Same
EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers remain at December 15, 2022 for every country group.
EB-5 Unreserved remains Current for All Other Countries, Mexico and the Philippines. China’s cutoff is December 1, 2016, and India’s is December 1, 2023.
All three EB-5 set-aside categories-Rural, High Unemployment and Infrastructure-remain Current for every country group.
Employment-Based Dates for Filing
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 01JUL24 | 01JUL24 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 15MAR26 | 01JAN23 | 15JAN15 | 15MAR26 | 15MAR26 |
| EB-3 | 01AUG24 | 01APR24 | 15JAN15 | 01AUG24 | 01JAN24 |
| Other Workers | 01JUL22 | 01OCT20 | 15JAN15 | 01JUL22 | 01JUN22 |
| EB-4 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C | 01MAR21 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| EB-5 Rural | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 High Unemployment | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 Infrastructure | C | C | C | C | C |
The only change in this chart is for Other Workers in All Other Countries and Mexico, where the filing date advanced by one month to July 1, 2022. All other employment-based filing dates stayed the same.
For All Other Countries, Mexico and the Philippines, the EB-2 filing date remains March 15, 2026. The EB-3 filing date remains August 1, 2024 for All Other Countries and Mexico, while the Philippines has a separate cutoff of January 1, 2024.
An advance in the Final Action Date does not automatically change the filing date. Always check the correct chart for your next step.
Which Chart Should You Use for Form I-485?
If you are applying for a Green Card from inside the United States, check which chart USCIS has authorized for November 2026 before filing Form I-485. The Department of State’s publication of a Dates for Filing chart does not automatically make that chart available for I-485 filings.
USCIS generally requires the Final Action Dates chart unless it announces that applicants may use Dates for Filing.
Review the USCIS monthly filing-chart announcement and confirm that you meet the other filing requirements.
If you are applying through a U.S. embassy or consulate, follow the NVC’s instructions for submitting documents.
Your priority date must also be eligible under the Final Action Dates chart before an immigrant visa can be issued.
Fiscal Year 2027 Visa Limits
The November bulletin lists these annual limits:
Family-sponsored preference categories: At least 226,000 worldwide.
Employment-based categories: At least 140,000 worldwide.
General per-country limit: 7% of the combined family and employment preference limits, listed as 25,620.
Dependent-area limit: 2%, listed as 7,320.
The per-country limit does not mean each country receives that many visas. Visa allocation also depends on demand, category limits and other legal rules.
Key Changes from October to November 2026
The following table summarizes the main advances across country groups. Use the full charts above to find your exact cutoff date.
| Category | Chart | Country Group | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1, F2B, F3 and F4 | Final Action and Filing | All Other Countries | 1 year forward |
| F1, F2B and F3 | Final Action and Filing | China and India | 1 year forward |
| F4 | Final Action and Filing | China | 1 year forward |
| F2A | Final Action | All country groups | 1 month forward |
| F1 and F3 | Final Action | Mexico | 14 days forward |
| EB-1 | Final Action | China | 1 month forward |
| EB-2 | Final Action | All Other Countries, Mexico and Philippines | 3 months forward |
| EB-3 | Final Action | All Other Countries and Mexico | 1 month forward |
| EB-3 | Final Action | China | 14 days forward |
| EB-3 and Other Workers | Final Action | India | 21 days forward |
| Other Workers | Final Action | All Other Countries and Mexico | 5 months forward |
| Other Workers | Dates for Filing | All Other Countries and Mexico | 1 month forward |
A date moving forward by several months does not mean your case will finish that many months sooner. The bulletin shows visa availability, rather than the total processing time for your application.
What Should Applicants Do Next?
Unless USCIS announces otherwise, applicants filing Form I-485 must use the Final Action Dates chart. The Dates for Filing chart can be used only when USCIS authorizes it for that month and application category.
Before filing in November 2026, check the USCIS monthly chart announcement. Even when Dates for Filing is allowed for submitting an application, final approval still depends on visa availability under Final Action Dates.
How Can MC Law Firm Help?
Our team can help you understand how the November 2026 Visa Bulletin affects your case, check your priority date and plan the next steps in your Green Card process.
Contact us for a free case review.
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