November 2026 Visa Bulletin explained
Data updated 2026-10-23 · Source: U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin For November 2026
- EB-3 Other Workers · All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed : 2022-01-01 → 2022-06-01 Advanced 151 d
- EB-2 Second Preference · All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed : 2025-01-01 → 2025-04-01 Advanced 90 d
- EB-1 First Preference · CHINA-mainland born : 2023-07-01 → 2023-08-01 Advanced 31 d
Ranked by size of move, one line per category; all values are Final Action Dates compared with last month.
USCIS states that for the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, both family- and employment-based adjustment-of-status applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart. Consular processing always follows the Final Action Dates chart. Official source (USCIS)
Employment-based Final Action Dates
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 First Preference | C (Current) | 2023-08-01 | 2023-02-01 | C (Current) | C (Current) |
| EB-2 Second Preference | 2025-04-01 | 2021-10-01 | 2013-11-01 | 2025-04-01 | 2025-04-01 |
| EB-3 Skilled / Professionals | 2024-06-15 | 2022-01-22 | 2014-01-22 | 2024-06-15 | 2023-08-15 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 2022-06-01 | 2019-10-01 | 2014-01-22 | 2022-06-01 | 2022-01-01 |
| EB-4 Special Immigrants | 2022-12-15 | 2022-12-15 | 2022-12-15 | 2022-12-15 | 2022-12-15 |
| EB-5 Investors | C (Current) | 2016-12-01 | 2023-12-01 | C (Current) | C (Current) |
Final Action cut-offs versus October 2026: advance (green, right) and retrogression (red, left). Only categories with both months collected.
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 First Preference | No change | Advanced 31 d | No change |
| EB-2 Second Preference | Advanced 90 d | No change | No change |
| EB-3 Skilled / Professionals | Advanced 31 d | Advanced 14 d | Advanced 21 d |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Advanced 151 d | No change | Advanced 21 d |
| EB-4 Special Immigrants | No change | No change | No change |
| EB-5 Investors | No change | No change | No change |
Employment-based Dates for Filing
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 First Preference | C (Current) | 2024-07-01 | 2024-07-01 | C (Current) | C (Current) |
| EB-2 Second Preference | 2026-03-15 | 2023-01-01 | 2015-01-15 | 2026-03-15 | 2026-03-15 |
| EB-3 Skilled / Professionals | 2024-08-01 | 2024-04-01 | 2015-01-15 | 2024-08-01 | 2024-01-01 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 2022-07-01 | 2020-10-01 | 2015-01-15 | 2022-07-01 | 2022-06-01 |
| EB-4 Special Immigrants | 2025-01-01 | 2025-01-01 | 2025-01-01 | 2025-01-01 | 2025-01-01 |
| EB-5 Investors | C (Current) | 2021-03-01 | 2024-05-01 | C (Current) | C (Current) |
Verification status
Verified
Both the Final Action and Dates for Filing tables were read directly from the official travel.state.gov bulletin page (U.S. Department of State, CA/VO: October 5, 2026) and transcribed cell by cell on 2026-10-21, then re-read and matched on 2026-10-23. The USCIS chart designation was re-verified on the USCIS site on 2026-10-23.
Official source: U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin For November 2026
Questions about this bulletin
What are the EB-2 and EB-3 cut-off dates for China in November 2026?
Final Action: EB-2 China 2021-10-01, EB-3 China 2022-01-22. Dates for Filing: EB-2 China 2023-01-01, EB-3 China 2024-04-01. Both charts come from the same bulletin but govern different stages — Final Action decides when a green card can be approved, Dates for Filing decides when I-485 may be submitted.
What is the difference between the Final Action Date and the Date for Filing — which one applies to me?
Final Action Dates decide when your green card can be approved. Dates for Filing decide when you may submit Form I-485. If you have already filed, Final Action governs. If you have not filed and you are adjusting status inside the United States, use whichever chart USCIS designates for the month. Consular processing always follows Final Action Dates.
Which chart does USCIS require this month?
For November 2026, USCIS requires the Dates for Filing chart for adjustment-of-status (I-485) applicants; consular processing still follows Final Action.
Can I file I-485 this month if my priority date is earlier than the Date for Filing?
Yes, provided your preference category and country of birth match that column and your priority date is earlier than the Dates for Filing cut-off. Filing eligibility still depends on other requirements — being physically in the United States, an approved I-140, and a visa number being available. This page compares dates only; it does not decide individual eligibility.
Did any category retrogress in November 2026?
No category moved backwards for this chargeability this month. A retrogression means the date that can move forward got earlier, so anyone in the queue should re-check against the new table.
When is the next Visa Bulletin published?
The U.S. Department of State usually publishes it around the 8th–10th business day of the month. The 2026-12 values are never shown here ahead of the official release; every cell is checked against the official page before this page and the data file are updated.
- Priority-date decoder — enter your priority date for a three-state answer and a movement range
- H-1B odds — H-1B odds range, with numerator and denominator
- Method — how the two charts differ and how we compute
- H-1B fees
Tell me when next month’s bulletin lands
Published around the 8th–10th business day each month. Leave an email and we will tell you that day — nothing else.