November 2026 Visa Bulletin Released

 

The Department of State (DOS) has published its November 2026 Visa Bulletin. In November, most employment-based and family-based categories will advance. Fortunately, no categories will retrogress.  

USCIS will continue to honor Dates for Filing Charts for both categories in November. As these dates continue to fall ahead of the Final Action Dates, beneficiaries of employment and family-based immigrant visa petitions who are in the United States lawfully can file their applications for interim employment and travel benefits until the government can actually approve their application.  

Employment-Based Movement 

In November, the largest advances will be in worldwide EB-3 Other Workers and EB-2.

EB-1 remains current worldwide. EB-1 China advances one month to August 1, 2023, while India remains unchanged at February 1, 2023.

EB-2 worldwide advances three months to April 1, 2025. China and India remain unchanged at October 1, 2021, and November 1, 2013, respectively.

EB-3 worldwide advances one month to June 15, 2024. China advances two weeks to January 22, 2022, and India advances three weeks to January 22, 2014. The Philippines remains unchanged at August 15, 2023.

EB-3 Other Workers worldwide advances five months to June 1, 2022, the largest employment-based gain. India advances three weeks to January 22, 2014. China and the Philippines remain unchanged at October 1, 2019, and January 1, 2022, respectively.

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

 
 

As mentioned above, USCIS will continue to honor the Dates for Filing Chart for employment-based petitions, which are provided below.  Nearly all categories remain the same as in October, except for EB-3 Other Workers worldwide, which will move ahead by one month. 

 
 

If the priority date for your employment-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. 

Family-based Movement

In November, four worldwide categories advance a full year, while most country-specific cutoffs show limited movement. 

F-1 worldwide will advance one year to January 22, 2021. Mexico advances two weeks to September 22, 2008, while the Philippines remains unchanged at November 1, 2013.

F-2A will advance by one month for all countries. The worldwide and Philippines cutoff reaches October 22, 2026, while Mexico reaches April 22, 2026.

F-2B worldwide moves forward by one year to August 22, 2020. Mexico and the Philippines remain unchanged at May 15, 2010, and October 1, 2013, respectively.

F-3 worldwide also advances by one year to October 22, 2015. Mexico advances two weeks to July 15, 2001, while the Philippines remains unchanged at July 22, 2006.

F-4 worldwide advances one year to October 22, 2012. India, Mexico, and the Philippines remain unchanged at December 15, 2006; April 22, 2001; and May 15, 2008, respectively.

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

 
 

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

For November 2026, USCIS has confirmed the Dates for Filing Chart (below) should be used for family-based categories. 

 
 

If the priority date for your 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