November 2025 Visa Bulletin Released

 

The Department of State (DOS) has published its November 2025 Visa Bulletin. This month, we see forward movement in a few family-based immigrant visa categories. However, there is no movement in any employment-based immigrant visa categories. Fortunately, none of the categories will retrogress.

For family-based final action dates, there will be slight advancements in the F-2B category for all nationals except those from Mexico and the Philippines, and the F-3 category for nationals of Mexico.

For employment-based categories, there will be no movement and priority dates remain the same.

The good news is that USCIS will continue to honor the Dates for Filing Chart for both employment and family-based petitions in November (charts provided further below). Compared to last month, many family-based categories move forward, but remain the same for employment-based categories. These dates are much further ahead than the Final Action Dates, so more beneficiaries of all immigrant visa petitions can get their applications filed and obtain interim employment and travel benefits until the government can actually approve their application.

Employment-Based Movement

Employment-based final action dates see no movement from last month.

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

 
 

That said, USCIS will honor the Dates for Filing (further below), which are further ahead than Final Action Dates.

Family-based Movement

In November, the only movement we will see is an eight-day advancement in the F-2B category for all nationals except those from Mexico and the Philippines, and a two-week advancement in the F-3 category for nationals of Mexico. All other final action dates remain the same.

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

 
 

As mentioned previously, USCIS will honor the Dates for Filing chart (further below) for family-based immigrant visa categories.

By way of reminder, the categories are:

  • F-1 category: unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

  • F2-A category: spouses and children under 21 of lawful permanent residents

  • F2-B category: unmarried adult children (over 21) of lawful permanent residents

  • F-3 category: married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

  • F-4 category: siblings of U.S. citizens

WHAT DATES IN THE VISA BULLETIN SHOULD YOU USE FOR FILING YOUR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS APPLICATION WITH USCIS?

If USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, then USCIS will state here that you may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin, which usually has dates later than the Final Action Dates noted above. Otherwise, USCIS will indicate on its website that you must use the Application Final Action Dates chart (above) to determine when you may file your adjustment of status application in the United States.

For November 2025, USCIS has confirmed the Dates for Filing (below) should be used for both family and employment-based categories.

 
 
 
 

If the priority date for your employment or family-based category is before the date listed above and you are in the United States, you may file your application to adjust your status along with the applications for employment authorization and travel permission (assuming you have no bars to admissibility) with USCIS in November.

The entire visa bulletin is available on the State Department’s website, which includes information on the diversity visa lottery and the EB-5 priority dates.

If you would like more information on how to understand the monthly visa bulletin, please check out our blog post on this topic and our podcast available here.

This alert is for informational purposes only. Please contact us if you would like to discuss these developments further.

 
Nadia Yakoob