November 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Advances, Most Filing Dates Hold Steady
For November 2026, USCIS will continue using the Dates for Filing chart (Chart B) for all employment-based adjustment applications. Most filing cutoffs remain unchanged from October, but several Final Action Dates advance, potentially allowing more pending green-card applications to be approved. USCIS chart selection
The distinction matters: Dates for Filing determine when an otherwise eligible applicant can submit an adjustment application. Final Action Dates determine when a visa number is available for approval. A priority date must be earlier than the applicable cutoff, not equal to it, unless the category is marked current.
What changed from October?
EB-2, including National Interest Waivers
The Final Action Date for countries other than China and India advances three months, from January 1 to April 1, 2025. China remains at October 1, 2021, and India remains at November 1, 2013.
This is November’s most significant movement for many employment-based applicants. It expands the group whose pending cases may be eligible for approval, but does not change the EB-2 filing cutoffs.
EB-3 professionals and skilled workers
Most countries, including Mexico, advance 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 at August 15, 2023.
EB-1
China advances one month to August 1, 2023. India remains at February 1, 2023. All other countries remain current.
EB-3 Other Workers
Most countries, including Mexico, advance five months to June 1, 2022. India advances three weeks to January 22, 2014. China and the Philippines remain unchanged.
What about new filings?
Employment-based Dates for Filing remain unchanged except for Other Workers from countries other than China, India and the Philippines. Their filing cutoff advances one month, from June 1 to July 1, 2022.
For most EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 professional applicants, November therefore does not expand the priority-date range eligible to file. Applicants who already qualified under October’s filing chart generally retain that opportunity in November, assuming they satisfy the other adjustment requirements.
The bottom line
November brings meaningful progress in several Final Action Dates, especially EB-2 for countries other than China and India. The principal benefit is potential approval eligibility for more pending cases, rather than a broader filing opportunity for most applicants.
Becoming current does not guarantee an immediate decision. Before filing or assessing approval eligibility, check the correct preference category, country of chargeability and applicable chart.
