USA Visa Bulletin November 2026: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, Family Green Card Priority Dates & Filing Dates

Latest USA Visa Bulletin for November 2026

The November 2026 USA Visa Bulletin has been published. The U.S. Department of State has released updated Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for employment-based and family-sponsored immigrant visa categories.

The Visa Bulletin helps green card applicants determine whether an immigrant visa number may be available based on their priority date, immigrant visa category and country of chargeability. The bulletin applies to qualified applicants worldwide, including people from countries that are not separately listed in the official tables.

Department of State vs USCIS charts: The tables below report Department of State Visa Bulletin dates. Applicants filing Form I-485 inside the United States must separately confirm which chart USCIS authorizes for the month on the USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Charts page. For November 2026, USCIS has published Dates for Filing charts for family-sponsored and employment-based adjustment applicants.

November 2026 Visa Bulletin Highlights

• EB-1: Remains Current for most countries. China's Final Action Date advanced from July 1, 2023, to August 1, 2023. India's Final Action Date remains February 1, 2023.
• EB-2: The Final Action Date for most countries advanced three months, from January 1, 2025, to April 1, 2025. India and mainland China continue to have earlier cutoff dates.
• EB-3: The Final Action Date for most countries advanced one month, from May 15, 2024, to June 15, 2024. India's Final Action Date advanced from January 1, 2014, to January 22, 2014.
• EB-3 Other Workers: The Final Action Date for most countries advanced five months, from January 1, 2022, to June 1, 2022.
• EB-4: The general Final Action Date remains December 15, 2022, across all five published country columns.
• EB-5: Unreserved categories remain Current for most countries, with separate cutoff dates for India and China. The three reserved set-aside categories remain Current across the published columns.
• Family-sponsored visas: Several preference categories advanced modestly month over month, including F1 and F2A for most countries.

Applicants should check the official U.S. Visa Bulletin index for the next monthly release.

November 2026 Employment-Based Visa Bulletin: Final Action Dates

Final Action Dates indicate when immigrant visa numbers may be authorized for qualified applicants in the relevant employment-based category and country of chargeability. An applicant's priority date generally must be earlier than the published cutoff date.

Table explanation: C means Current and U means Unavailable. Dates follow the day, month and year format used by the Department of State. The Most Countries column refers to All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.

Source: Official November 2026 Visa Bulletin.

EB-1 Priority Dates for November 2026

The November 2026 EB-1 Final Action Date is current for most countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UAE, Canada, the UK, Nigeria and Australia. Applicants chargeable to India have a cutoff date of February 1, 2023, while applicants chargeable to mainland China have a cutoff date of August 1, 2023.

EB-1 includes extraordinary ability applicants under EB-1A, outstanding professors and researchers under EB-1B, and certain multinational managers and executives under EB-1C. Current visa availability does not automatically establish eligibility for an EB-1 petition or green card approval.

EB-2 Priority Dates for November 2026

The November 2026 EB-2 Final Action Date is April 1, 2025, for most countries, November 1, 2013, for India and October 1, 2021, for mainland China.

EB-2 includes advanced-degree professionals and applicants with exceptional ability. EB-2 National Interest Waiver applicants generally use the same EB-2 Visa Bulletin row as other EB-2 applicants chargeable to the same country. EB-2 NIW does not have a separate cutoff-date chart.

EB-3 Priority Dates for November 2026

The November 2026 EB-3 Final Action Date is June 15, 2024, for most countries, January 22, 2014, for India, January 22, 2022, for mainland China and August 15, 2023, for the Philippines.

EB-3 includes qualifying professionals, skilled workers and other workers. The Other Workers subcategory has a separate row and different cutoff dates for some countries. Applicants should identify the exact EB-3 classification approved or requested in their immigration petition.

EB-4 and EB-5 Priority Dates for November 2026

The general EB-4 Final Action Date is December 15, 2022, across all five country columns. EB-4 covers various special immigrant classifications, although eligibility rules and program limitations vary by classification.

EB-5 unreserved immigrant visa numbers are current for most countries, while mainland China has a Final Action Date of December 1, 2016, and India has a Final Action Date of December 1, 2023. The rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure set-aside categories are current across the published country columns.

November 2026 Employment-Based Dates for Filing

The Dates for Filing chart identifies when certain applicants may begin submitting required documents or immigration applications. The applicable procedure depends on whether the applicant is completing consular processing or applying for adjustment of status inside the United States.

Important: Applicants filing Form I-485 must check which chart USCIS permits for November 2026. The Department of State's Dates for Filing chart does not automatically determine eligibility to submit Form I-485.

Check the USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Charts before submitting an adjustment application.

November 2026 Family-Sponsored Visa Bulletin: Final Action Dates

Family-sponsored preference immigration allows certain relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to immigrate through numerically limited visa categories. The applicable cutoff date depends on the family relationship, preference category and country of chargeability.

F2A note: The official bulletin includes additional allocation rules concerning certain F2A visas exempt from per-country limits. Applicants should consult the Department of State's full F2A explanation rather than relying only on the summary table.

What Are the Family-Sponsored Visa Categories?

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens: Eligible spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents of U.S. citizens aged 21 or older are generally not subject to the numerical limits that apply to family preference categories. They still must satisfy petition, admissibility and other immigration requirements.

November 2026 Family-Sponsored Dates for Filing

Family-sponsored Dates for Filing indicate when applicants may begin certain immigrant visa document-submission steps, subject to the applicable government instructions. Adjustment applicants must separately confirm which chart USCIS authorizes for the month.

The F2A Dates for Filing chart is current across the five published country columns for November 2026, but the Final Action Dates are not current. Applicants should understand that eligibility to begin certain filing steps does not guarantee immediate immigrant visa issuance or green card approval.

November 2026 vs October 2026 Visa Bulletin: What Changed?

The November 2026 Visa Bulletin continues fiscal year 2027 and includes several employment-based Final Action Date advances for Rest of World applicants, along with more limited movement in family-sponsored categories.

Notable Employment-Based Updates

• EB-1 remains Current for most countries under Final Action Dates. China's EB-1 Final Action Date advanced from July 1, 2023, to August 1, 2023.
• EB-2 Final Action Dates for most countries, Mexico and the Philippines advanced from January 1, 2025, to April 1, 2025.
• EB-3 Final Action Dates for most countries and Mexico advanced from May 15, 2024, to June 15, 2024. India's EB-3 Final Action Date advanced from January 1, 2014, to January 22, 2014. China's EB-3 Final Action Date advanced from January 8, 2022, to January 22, 2022.
• EB-3 Other Workers Final Action Dates for most countries and Mexico advanced from January 1, 2022, to June 1, 2022.
• EB-4 and EB-5 Unreserved Final Action Dates for the published columns are unchanged from October 2026. EB-5 reserved set-aside categories remain Current.
• Employment-based Dates for Filing are largely stable month over month, with EB-3 Other Workers advancing from June 1, 2022, to July 1, 2022, for most countries and Mexico.

Notable Family-Sponsored Updates

• The F1 Final Action Date for most countries advanced from January 22, 2020, to January 22, 2021.
• The F2A Final Action Date for most countries advanced from September 22, 2026, to October 22, 2026.
• The F2B Final Action Date for most countries advanced from August 22, 2019, to August 22, 2020.
• The F3 and F4 Final Action Dates for most countries each advanced by about one year from the corresponding October 2026 dates.
• Mexico's F1 Final Action Date advanced from September 8, 2008, to September 22, 2008, and Mexico's F2A Final Action Date advanced from March 22, 2026, to April 22, 2026.

When comparing monthly Visa Bulletins, always use the same immigration category, country of chargeability and chart type. A change in the Final Action Date should not be confused with a change in the Date for Filing.

View the October 2026 Visa Bulletin.

USA Visa Bulletin for All Countries: Which Priority Date Applies to You?

The USA Visa Bulletin covers immigrant visa applicants worldwide, but it does not publish an individual priority-date column for every country. Most countries fall under the shared All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed column. Certain countries have separate columns because of applicable visa demand and allocation rules.

Countries With Separate Visa Bulletin Columns

• Mainland China
• India
• Mexico
• Philippines

Applicants chargeable to countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Germany and many others generally use the Most Countries column unless a special chargeability rule applies.

Is the Visa Bulletin Based on Country of Birth or Citizenship?

Immigrant visa chargeability is generally based on country of birth, not current citizenship, passport nationality or country of residence. Dual citizenship does not automatically change the chargeability country used in the Visa Bulletin.

What Is Cross-Chargeability?

In limited circumstances, an applicant may be able to use a spouse's country of chargeability. Cross-chargeability has specific legal requirements and is not automatically available to every married couple. Applicants considering this option should review current Department of State and USCIS guidance or consult qualified counsel.

Does Dual Citizenship Change Your Visa Bulletin Country?

Usually no. Holding citizenship of a second country does not, by itself, move an applicant into a different Visa Bulletin column. Chargeability generally follows the applicable country-of-birth rules unless a qualifying exception applies.

What Is the USA Visa Bulletin and How Does It Work?

The USA Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State that reports immigrant visa-number availability in numerically limited family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories.

The bulletin is used by consular officers, USCIS and applicants to understand whether immigrant visa numbers may be available based on preference category, country of chargeability and priority date.

Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing

What Do C and U Mean in the Visa Bulletin?

C means Current. U means Unavailable. A Current category does not automatically approve a petition or green card. An Unavailable category means immigrant visa numbers are not authorized for issuance in that category and column for the month.

What Is Visa Bulletin Retrogression?

Retrogression occurs when a priority-date cutoff moves backward in a subsequent Visa Bulletin. Retrogression can temporarily make immigrant visa numbers unavailable to applicants whose priority dates previously qualified under a later cutoff.

How to Check Your USA Visa Bulletin Priority Date Step by Step

Step 1: Identify Your Immigrant Visa Category

Determine whether your case belongs to an employment-based classification, such as EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4 or EB-5, or a family-sponsored category, such as F1, F2A, F2B, F3 or F4. Your exact category determines which row of the Visa Bulletin applies.

Step 2: Confirm Your Country of Chargeability

Use the Visa Bulletin column that matches your country of chargeability. Most applicants use the Most Countries column unless they are chargeable to China, India, Mexico or the Philippines.

Step 3: Locate Your Priority Date

Your priority date is generally the date USCIS properly received the immigrant petition, or the date a required labor certification was accepted for processing by the Department of Labor when applicable.

Step 4: Select the Appropriate Visa Bulletin Chart

Decide whether you are checking Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing. Applicants adjusting status inside the United States must also confirm which chart USCIS authorizes for the relevant month.

Step 5: Compare Your Priority Date With the Cutoff

Your priority date generally must be earlier than the published cutoff date. If the chart shows Current, qualified applicants in that category and column may proceed subject to all other eligibility requirements.

You can use the interactive priority-date checker near the top of this page for a quick comparison against the November 2026 tables.

What Happens When Your Priority Date Becomes Current?

A current priority date means immigrant visa numbers may be available in your category and country of chargeability under the applicable chart. It does not automatically complete the green card process.

Applicants may still need an approved immigrant petition, completed medical and civil documents, an immigrant visa interview or Form I-485 adjudication, and a determination of admissibility.

What If Your Priority Date Is Current but Your I-140 Is Still Pending?

Visa-number availability and petition adjudication are separate. Some applicants may qualify for concurrent filing of Form I-140 and Form I-485 when the law and the USCIS-authorized filing chart permit it. Others must wait for petition approval and visa availability before final green card processing can proceed.

Can You File I-140 and I-485 Concurrently?

Concurrent filing may be available in certain employment-based cases when a visa number is immediately available under the chart USCIS authorizes for that month and all other eligibility requirements are met. Applicants should confirm current USCIS instructions for their category before filing.

Does Premium Processing Speed Up Your Priority Date?

No. Premium processing can accelerate adjudication of certain petitions, such as some Form I-140 filings, but it does not advance Visa Bulletin cutoff dates or create immigrant visa-number availability.

How Does USCIS Decide Between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?

Each month, USCIS decides which Department of State chart adjustment-of-status applicants may use. When USCIS determines that more immigrant visas are available than known demand, it may authorize the Dates for Filing chart. Otherwise, applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart. Always verify the monthly USCIS announcement before filing Form I-485.

How to Read the Visa Bulletin for EB-1A and EB-2 NIW Applicants

Self-petitioning employment-based applicants often ask whether their category has a separate Visa Bulletin row. In general:

• EB-1A applicants follow the EB-1 row for their country of chargeability.
• EB-2 NIW applicants follow the EB-2 row for their country of chargeability.

Neither EB-1A nor EB-2 NIW has a separate cutoff-date chart. Petition approval, visa-number availability and final green card eligibility remain distinct requirements.

Can You Predict Your Green Card Waiting Time Using the Visa Bulletin?

The Visa Bulletin does not provide a guaranteed green card approval timeline. Cutoff dates reflect visa-number availability and demand management rather than a fixed estimate of how long an individual applicant will wait.

Does the November Visa Bulletin Usually Move Faster?

No single month guarantees faster movement. Monthly changes depend on demand, unused numbers, country limits and Department of State allocation decisions.

What Factors Affect Future Visa Bulletin Movement?

• Demand reported by consular posts and USCIS
• Annual and quarterly numerical limits
• Country-specific oversubscription
• Unused numbers that become available for reallocation
• Changes in filing volume after Dates for Filing authorizations

Common USA Visa Bulletin Mistakes to Avoid

• Comparing Final Action Dates with Dates for Filing as if they were the same chart
• Assuming Dates for Filing automatically allows Form I-485 filing
• Using citizenship instead of country of chargeability
• Treating a Current category as automatic green card approval
• Ignoring subcategory differences such as EB-3 Other Workers or EB-5 set-asides
• Assuming premium processing changes Visa Bulletin cutoffs

Does the USA Visa Bulletin Apply to Tourist, Student or Work Visas?

The family-sponsored and employment-based Visa Bulletin charts discussed on this page apply to numerically limited immigrant visa categories leading to permanent residence. They do not set the availability of temporary nonimmigrant visas such as B-1/B-2, F-1, H-1B, L-1 or J-1.

An H-1B, J-1, F-1 or other nonimmigrant visa holder may separately pursue an immigrant petition. For example, an H-1B professional with an EB-2 petition may need to check the EB-2 Visa Bulletin during the permanent residence process.

The Diversity Visa program has separate regional rank cutoffs and instructions published in the Visa Bulletin. Diversity Visa rank cutoffs are different from EB and family-sponsored priority-date cutoffs.

For a broader explanation of U.S. immigrant and nonimmigrant categories, read the VisaBoards guide to types of USA visas and their requirements.

Previous USA Visa Bulletins and Monthly Archive

The Department of State publishes Visa Bulletins monthly. Reviewing previous months can help applicants understand changes in the cutoff dates for their immigrant visa category and country of chargeability.

VisaBoards updates this article when new official Visa Bulletin information becomes available. Applicants should verify the applicable monthly bulletin before making filing or travel decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions About the USA Visa Bulletin

Does the United States release a Visa Bulletin every month?

Yes. The U.S. Department of State normally publishes a Visa Bulletin every month. The bulletin includes immigrant visa-number availability information for family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories, along with separate Diversity Visa rank information.

When is the next USA Visa Bulletin released?

The Department of State generally publishes each monthly bulletin during the preceding month. The exact publication date is not guaranteed. Applicants should check the official Visa Bulletin website for the latest release.

Does the USA Visa Bulletin cover every country?

Yes. The bulletin applies to immigrant visa applicants worldwide. Most chargeability areas share the All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed column, while certain countries have separate cutoff-date columns.

Is the Visa Bulletin based on citizenship or birthplace?

Visa Bulletin chargeability is generally based on country of birth rather than current citizenship or residence. Special immigration rules, including qualifying cross-chargeability, may apply in some circumstances.

Is EB-2 NIW listed separately in the Visa Bulletin?

No. EB-2 National Interest Waiver applicants generally follow the same EB-2 Visa Bulletin dates as other EB-2 applicants with the same country of chargeability.

What happens if my priority date is exactly the cutoff date?

A priority date generally must be earlier than a listed cutoff date to qualify under that cutoff. An applicant whose priority date is exactly the same as the listed cutoff date generally is not current under that date.

Can I submit Form I-485 using Dates for Filing?

Applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart for Form I-485 only when USCIS authorizes that chart for the relevant month and category and the applicant satisfies all applicable adjustment-of-status requirements.

Does an approved I-140 guarantee a green card?

No. An approved I-140 does not guarantee permanent residence. Applicants must also meet the applicable visa-number availability, admissibility and green card eligibility requirements.

Does the Visa Bulletin determine H-1B processing times?

No. The standard employment-based and family-sponsored Visa Bulletin charts do not determine H-1B petition processing times. H-1B workers pursuing employment-based green cards may separately be affected by immigrant visa priority dates.

Can Visa Bulletin dates move backward?

Yes. Retrogression occurs when a cutoff date moves backward. Retrogression may temporarily prevent immigrant visa issuance or final adjustment approval for applicants whose priority dates no longer qualify under the applicable Final Action Date.

What happens if my child turns 21 while waiting for a green card?

The Child Status Protection Act may preserve eligibility for certain applicants who age out while waiting. Eligibility depends on the immigration category, relevant dates and applicable USCIS or Department of State rules. Families should review current official guidance rather than relying only on a Visa Bulletin cutoff date.

Can my spouse's country of birth affect my green card waiting time?

Potentially. Some applicants may qualify for cross-chargeability based on a spouse's country of chargeability. The exception has specific legal requirements and is not automatically available to every married couple.

How long after my priority date becomes current will I receive a green card?

There is no guaranteed waiting period after a priority date becomes current. Petition status, document processing, interview scheduling, visa-number availability and individual immigration eligibility all affect the time required.

Official USA Visa Bulletin Sources

VisaBoards uses U.S. government publications as the primary reference for monthly Visa Bulletin data and related filing guidance.

• U.S. Department of State: Current and Archived Visa Bulletins
• November 2026 Official Visa Bulletin
• USCIS: Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
• USCIS: Green Card Eligibility and Procedures

Editorial disclaimer: VisaBoards is an independent immigration information website and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, USCIS or any U.S. government agency. Immigration rules, visa availability and filing requirements may change. Readers should verify case-specific information with official government sources or a qualified immigration attorney.

Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.