November 2026 Visa Bulletin: Your Guide to Employment-Based Filing Dates

November 2026 Visa Bulletin: Understanding Employment-Based Filing Dates

The U.S. Department of State’s November 2026 Visa Bulletin provides important updates for individuals seeking employment-based green cards. This bulletin details the “Dates for Filing” and “Final Action” dates, which determine when an applicant can submit their adjustment of status application or when their case can be finally approved, respectively. For November 2026, USCIS has selected the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based adjustment cases. This means applicants in the U.S. should refer to this chart to know when they can file their Form I-485.

The bulletin shows movement in several categories, with the EB-3 Other Workers category seeing notable advancements. Understanding these dates is crucial for managing expectations and preparing the necessary paperwork for the green card process. This analysis will break down the key changes and explain how these dates affect different employment-based visa categories.

Key Changes in the November 2026 Visa Bulletin

The November 2026 Visa Bulletin brings specific changes to the Dates for Filing and Final Action charts. For the EB-3 Other Workers category, the filing cutoff for most countries and Mexico has advanced from June 1, 2022, to July 1, 2022. This represents a one-month progression on the filing chart. On the Final Action chart, this same category has seen a more significant jump, advancing to June 1, 2022. It is important to note that these two charts serve distinct purposes in the green card application process.

Other employment-based categories also show movement. For instance, the EB-2 category for all chargeability areas except those listed, Mexico, and the Philippines, has advanced by three months on the Final Action chart, moving from January 1, 2025, to April 1, 2025. The EB-1 category for China has advanced by one month on the Final Action chart, from July 1, 2023, to August 1, 2023.

Final Action Chart Updates

The Final Action chart indicates when a visa number is available for final adjudication of an immigrant visa case. For November 2026, several categories have seen their dates move forward:

• EB-1: China advanced by one month to August 1, 2023. India remained at February 1, 2023, and all other countries remained current.
• EB-2: All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines advanced by three months to April 1, 2025. China and India dates remained unchanged.
• EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: All other countries and Mexico advanced by one month to June 15, 2024. China advanced by 14 days to January 22, 2022, and India advanced by three weeks to January 22, 2014. The Philippines remained unchanged.
• Other Workers: All other countries and Mexico saw a significant five-month advance to June 1, 2022. India advanced by three weeks to January 22, 2014. China and the Philippines remained unchanged.
• EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers: Dates remained unchanged at December 15, 2022.
• EB-5 Unreserved: China and India dates remained unchanged, while all other countries remained current. The EB-5 set-asides remained current for all countries.

Filing Chart Updates

The Dates for Filing chart indicates when applicants can submit their Form I-485 application to adjust their status within the United States. For November 2026, the key changes are:

• EB-1: All other countries, including Mexico and the Philippines, remained current. China and India dates remained unchanged.
• EB-2: All other countries, Mexico, and the Philippines remained at March 15, 2026. China and India dates also remained unchanged.
• EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: All other countries and Mexico remained at August 1, 2024. China, India, and the Philippines dates also remained unchanged.
• Other Workers: All other countries and Mexico advanced by one month to July 1, 2022. China, India, and the Philippines dates remained unchanged.
• EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers: Dates remained unchanged.
• EB-5 Unreserved: China and India dates remained unchanged, while all other countries remained unchanged from October. The EB-5 set-asides remained current for all countries.

How to Use the Visa Bulletin Charts

Applicants for employment-based green cards must understand which chart to use and how to interpret the dates. USCIS directs applicants in all employment-based preference categories to use the November filing chart for adjustment-of-status applications filed within the United States. This instruction does not apply to individuals processing their immigrant visas abroad.

To determine eligibility for filing an adjustment of status application, applicants and their sponsoring employers should follow these steps:

1. Identify Category and Chargeability: Determine the applicant’s specific employment preference category (e.g., EB-1, EB-2, EB-3) and their country of chargeability.
2. Check the Filing Chart: Compare the applicant’s priority date with the corresponding cutoff date on the November Dates for Filing chart. The priority date must be earlier than the cutoff date for the category to be considered eligible for filing. A date equal to the cutoff is not sufficient.
3. Verify Other Requirements: Ensure the applicant meets all other eligibility requirements for adjustment of status.
4. Consider the Final Action Chart: Applicants may also check the Final Action chart. If the Final Action chart shows a category as current or has a cutoff date later than the corresponding filing chart date, it may offer an alternative pathway or indicate when final approval can be expected.
5. Processing Abroad: Applicants processing their immigrant visas outside the U.S. must follow the instructions provided by the Department of State and the National Visa Center, which may differ from USCIS’s adjustment chart selection.

A priority date that meets the filing chart’s requirements allows an applicant to submit their application. However, it does not guarantee that a visa number will be immediately available for final approval. The Final Action chart governs visa availability for the final adjudication of the case.

Understanding the Difference Between Filing and Final Action Dates

It is important to distinguish between the Dates for Filing and the Final Action dates. The Dates for Filing chart determines when an applicant can submit their application for adjustment of status. The Final Action chart determines when the U.S. government can approve the application and issue the green card.

A significant advancement on the Final Action chart does not automatically mean the filing window has expanded by the same amount. For example, the Other Workers category saw a five-month advance on the Final Action chart but only a one-month advance on the Dates for Filing chart. This difference highlights that progress in one area does not directly correlate with progress in the other.

Furthermore, a cutoff date advance does not predict the speed at which an individual application will be processed. Each case is unique, and processing times can vary based on numerous factors, including the volume of applications, the complexity of the case, and the specific service center or consulate handling it. The monthly changes in the visa bulletin reflect the overall demand and supply of immigrant visas within each category and country.

Category-Specific Movements and Observations

The November 2026 Visa Bulletin shows a mixed pattern of movement across employment-based categories. While EB-3 Other Workers saw notable progress, other categories experienced more modest changes or remained static.

• EB-2: The advancement of three months for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines on the Final Action chart is a positive development for applicants in these groups. However, the lack of movement for China and India in this category indicates continued backlogs.
• EB-1: The one-month advance for China on the Final Action chart is a small but welcome step. The continued current status for most other countries in EB-1 signifies that visa numbers are readily available for these applicants.
• EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: The advancements for China and India on the Final Action chart, though measured in weeks, are still progress. The one-month advance for other countries and Mexico also contributes to reducing wait times.
• EB-5: The EB-5 categories, including unreserved and set-aside options, show stability with no significant date changes. This suggests that the current visa availability for EB-5 investors is consistent.

It is also worth noting the separate movements in family-sponsored visa categories, which are not directly related to employment-based immigration but are also published in the Visa Bulletin. These family category dates have seen larger advancements, illustrating different demand and supply dynamics within the overall U.S. immigration system.

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