The State Department released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin on October 22, 2026. It is the second bulletin of Fiscal Year 2027. Employment-based applicants see modest forward movement for most Rest of World (ROW) categories, while several family-based categories gain a full year. Here is what changed and what it means for your green card timeline.
What Is the Visa Bulletin and Why Does It Matter?
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State. It lists cutoff dates that decide when an immigrant visa number is available to you, based on your priority date (the date your petition or labor certification was filed).
It has two charts. Final Action Dates show when a green card can be approved or a visa issued. Dates for Filing show when you can submit documents or, if USCIS allows, file your I-485 adjustment of status application. Reading the right chart is the most important step.
November 2026 Employment-Based Final Action Dates
Employment-based dates moved forward for most ROW applicants.
- EB-1: China moved forward one month, from July 1, 2023 to August 1, 2023. India stays at February 1, 2023, while ROW, Mexico and the Philippines remain current.
- EB-2: ROW, Mexico and the Philippines advanced three months, from January 1, 2025 to April 1, 2025. China stays at October 1, 2021 and India at November 1, 2013.
- EB-3: ROW and Mexico advanced from May 15, 2024 to June 15, 2024. China moved two weeks, from January 8, 2022 to January 22, 2022, and India moved three weeks, from January 1, 2014 to January 22, 2014.
The EB-2 gain follows October’s EB-2 retrogression, so some applicants will see this as a partial recovery.
EB-2 India Priority Date: No Change in November
Many Indian professionals on H-1B or in Hyderabad-to-US career pipelines watch this category closely. The EB-2 India final action date stays at November 1, 2013, and the filing date stays at January 15, 2015. Neither date moved from October.
Heavy demand and the per-country limit keep India’s backlog long. Applicants with priority dates after November 2013 should expect to wait, and should not expect sudden movement in the early months of a fiscal year.
Dates for Filing: What Changed in November 2026?
Filing dates mostly held steady. USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from people whose priority date is earlier than the Dates for Filing chart date in the November bulletin. That can let applicants file I-485 earlier than the Final Action Dates would allow.
The key EB-2 filing dates are:
- China: January 1, 2023
- India: January 15, 2015
- All other countries: March 15, 2026
For EB-1, China and India both sit at July 1, 2024 on the Dates for Filing chart. Always confirm on the USCIS website which chart applies, because USCIS can change its choice from month to month.
Family-Based Visa Bulletin: Biggest Gains This Month
Family-sponsored applicants gain the most this month. F1, F2B, F3 and F4 final action dates advanced a full year for most countries. F2A advanced one month for every country.
In F4, ROW and China moved from October 22, 2011 to October 22, 2012. India stays at December 15, 2006, Mexico at April 22, 2001 and the Philippines at May 8, 2008. Mexico and the Philippines still have the longest waits in several family categories.
What Should Applicants Do Now?
- Compare your priority date with the correct country column and chart.
- Check the USCIS chart page before filing an I-485. This decides whether Final Action or Dates for Filing applies.
- Gather documents early if you are within a few months of your cutoff. This includes medical exams, civil documents and employment letters.
- Avoid assumptions about future months. Early-fiscal-year dates can hold, advance or retrogress depending on demand.
- Talk to an immigration attorney about your case, especially if you are close to a cutoff or considering a category change.
Final Thoughts on the November 2026 Visa Bulletin
The November 2026 Visa Bulletin is a steady month for employment-based applicants and a strong one for four family categories. ROW EB-2 and EB-3 applicants see small gains, EB-2 India stays flat, and family dates move ahead in several categories. Check the official State Department bulletin and USCIS chart page before taking any filing action, since individual cases and chart choices can differ.
Immigration Fleet Law Firm