In the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, USCIS applies the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored and employment-based categories, with the family categories F2B, F3, and F4 showing the biggest jumps while the employment-based EB categories moved only modestly.
In short
- Categories F2B, F3, and F4 jumped a full year ahead due to the lifting of a visa issuance pause and a resulting surplus of numbers.
- EB1 remains current for every country except China (August 1, 2023), but that could change as early as 2027.
- EB5 with set-aside visas remains current — a petition can be filed immediately, without waiting for the priority date.
- The most notable shift among employment-based categories is EB3 Other Workers, which advanced five months.
- No significant retrogression is forecast before the end of 2026.
Which chart applies in November 2026: Final Action or Dates for Filing
For November 2026, USCIS publishes both charts — Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing — for family-sponsored and employment-based categories. Which one applicants are allowed to use for an adjustment of status filing is announced separately by USCIS each month on its website; both sets of dates are listed below so a reader can check either one.
The Dates for Filing chart is meant for people already in the U.S. in a lawful status — on a student visa, a work visa, or any other status. If an applicant’s priority date is earlier than the date listed in that chart, they can file for adjustment of status without waiting for the date to become current under the Final Action chart.
Before filing, applicants should check their priority date against the chart and confirm that the category and country of birth match what’s listed. If the date is current, an applicant already in the U.S. can file for adjustment of status and remain in the country while the case is pending.
USCIS announces each month which chart — Final Action or Dates for Filing — can be used for an adjustment of status filing. Before filing, check your priority date, category, and country of birth against the current chart.
EB1: current for every country
The EB1 category remains current for all countries, meaning applicants can file petitions without waiting for their priority date to advance. How long that will last is unclear: according to the source, the status could change as early as 2027, so EB1 self-petitioners are advised to file as soon as possible while the category is still current.
according to the source, the status could change as early as 2027, so EB1 self-petitioners are advised to file as soon as possible while the category is still current
The exception is China: EB1 for China moves on the Final Action Dates chart. In October 2026 the date stood at July 1, 2023; in November it advanced one month to August 1, 2023. India, like the rest of the world, remains current for EB1 on both charts — Final Action and Dates for Filing.
EB1 is current for every country except China, but that could change as early as 2027 — self-petitioners should consider filing while the window is still open.
EB2 and EB3: how the dates moved by country in November 2026
| Category | October 2026 | November 2026 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB2 (worldwide, Mexico, Philippines) | January 1, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | 3 months |
| EB3 India | January 1, 2014 | January 22, 2014 | 3 weeks |
| EB3 China | January 8, 2022 | January 22, 2022 | 2 weeks |
| EB3 (all countries and Mexico) | May 15, 2024 | June 15, 2024 | 1 month |
| EB3 Other Workers | January 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 | 5 months |
The table shows Final Action Dates — the dates that actually determine when a green card is issued. The biggest jump is in EB3 Other Workers, which advanced five months in a single update. EB2 for the worldwide chart, Mexico, and the Philippines moved three months.
For India and China in the EB3 category, movement was minimal — three weeks and two weeks respectively — though both dates remain years behind other categories due to a backlog built up over time.
On the Dates for Filing chart, movement among employment-based categories in November is limited to EB3 Other Workers, which advanced from June 1, 2022 to July 1, 2022 — one month. All other employment-based categories on this chart held steady.
Date movement for EB2 and EB3 categories in November 2026 (Final Action Dates)
Table scrolls sideways
| Category | October 2026 | November 2026 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB2 (worldwide, Mexico, Philippines) | January 1, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | 3 months |
| EB3 India | January 1, 2014 | January 22, 2014 | 3 weeks |
| EB3 China | January 8, 2022 | January 22, 2022 | 2 weeks |
| EB3 (all countries and Mexico) | May 15, 2024 | June 15, 2024 | 1 month |
| EB3 Other Workers | January 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 | 5 months |
Figures reflect the Final Action Dates chart; on the Dates for Filing chart, movement is limited to EB3 Other Workers — a one-month advance.
EB5: the investor category stays current
The EB5 set-aside category remains current, meaning applicants can file a petition right away without waiting for their priority date to advance. No retrogression has occurred in this category, and none is expected in the coming months, though what happens in early 2027 is still unknown.
Because there’s no backlog, EB5 is often described as the fastest route to a green card: while most employment-based categories (EB2, EB3) wait for their dates to advance, the investor category skips that step entirely. That’s one reason filings under EB5 tend to pick up toward the end of the year.
The EB5 set-aside category remains current, letting applicants file right away without waiting for their priority date to advance — making it the fastest route to a green card among all categories.
Family categories F1–F4: who jumped a full year ahead
The biggest winners in the November bulletin are categories F2B, F3, and F4: all three advanced a full year on both charts at once. The reason isn’t a one-time concession — it’s the lifting of a pause on visa issuance. With restrictions on new applicants gone, more visa numbers became available.
The biggest winners in the November bulletin are categories F2B, F3, and F4: all three advanced a full year on both charts at once
Final Action Dates (for applicants outside the U.S.):
| Category | October 2026 | November 2026 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1, worldwide | January 22, 2020 | January 22, 2021 | 1 year |
| F1, Mexico | September 8, 2008 | September 22, 2008 | 2 weeks |
| F2A, worldwide, China, India | September 22, 2026 | October 22, 2026 | 1 month |
| F2A, Mexico | March 22, 2026 | April 22, 2026 | 1 month |
| F2B, worldwide, China, India | August 22, 2019 | August 22, 2020 | 1 year |
| F3, worldwide, China, India | October 22, 2014 | October 22, 2015 | 1 year |
| F3, Mexico | July 1, 2001 | July 15, 2001 | 2 weeks |
| F4 (siblings), worldwide, China | October 22, 2011 | October 22, 2012 | 1 year |
Dates for Filing (for adjustment of status filings inside the U.S.):
| Category | October 2026 | November 2026 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1, worldwide | February 1, 2020 | February 1, 2021 | 1 year |
| F2B, worldwide, China, India | September 1, 2019 | September 1, 2020 | 1 year |
| F3, worldwide, China, India | November 1, 2014 | November 1, 2015 | 1 year |
| F4, worldwide | November 1, 2011 | November 1, 2012 | 1 year |
Mexico is tracked separately: its dates for F1, F2A, and F3 move independently of the worldwide chart and advance in smaller increments — weeks or a month instead of a year. For China and India in the F2B, F3, and F4 categories, the same dates apply as for the rest of the world.
Why family categories advanced faster than employment-based ones
The difference comes down to visa number availability, not the categories themselves. Family-sponsored categories currently have a surplus of visas: a previously active pause on issuance has been lifted, and the State Department is no longer required to hold back visas for new applicants. That’s what produced the one-year jump across F2B, F3, and F4 at once.
Employment-based categories don’t have that same surplus, which is why EB2 and EB3 only moved a few months instead of a year. In practice, this means employment-based applicants will likely wait longer than relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, even with a similar priority date.
Family categories got a one-year jump because a pause on visa issuance was lifted and a surplus of numbers opened up; employment-based categories have no such surplus, which explains the gap in speed.
What to do once your priority date becomes current
Once a priority date becomes current, next steps depend on where the applicant is located.
An applicant already in the U.S. in lawful status files for adjustment of status and can remain in the country while the case is pending — no separate visa is required for that period. Anyone ready to take this step should file now: the forward movement seen this month isn’t guaranteed to repeat in December or January.
the forward movement seen this month isn’t guaranteed to repeat in December or January
An applicant outside the U.S. with a current priority date works toward getting a consular interview scheduled. Once the NVC transfers the case to the embassy, an interview is typically scheduled within a few months — the exact timing depends on the workload of the specific consulate.
If your date just became current, applicants inside the U.S. should file for adjustment of status right away: forward movement in December and January isn’t guaranteed.
Outlook: what to expect from the visa bulletin in December 2026 and January 2027
Additional forward movement is expected in December and January — the November bulletin is being treated as part of a broader positive trend rather than a one-off spike. No significant retrogression is forecast before the end of the year: the dates that advanced in November are expected to hold rather than revert to earlier values.
This outlook concerns the general direction of movement, not specific categories or countries — the source material doesn’t specify which exact dates will shift in December and January.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file for adjustment of status if my priority date isn’t current yet but is close to becoming current in December?
No: eligibility to file only kicks in once the priority date becomes current under the chart in effect for that month. Since forward movement isn’t guaranteed and may not repeat in December, applicants should go by the date in effect at the time of actual filing, not by anticipated future movement.
What happens to the EB1 and EB5 categories if their status changes in early 2027?
There are no specific details available — only that the source mentions this possibility for EB1 in 2027, and that EB5’s status beyond the next few months is also undetermined. That’s why EB1 self-petitioners and EB5 investors are advised to file now, while both categories remain current.
Do I need to refile a new petition if my priority date becomes current after I already filed under a less favorable chart?
There’s no direct answer for this specific scenario, so the general rule applies: once the priority date is current, an applicant inside the U.S. in lawful status files for adjustment of status and can remain in the country while the case is pending, without needing a separate visa for that period.
How long does it take to get an interview date scheduled after NVC transfers the case to the embassy?
An interview is typically scheduled within a few months after the NVC transfers the case to the embassy, but the exact timing depends on the workload of the specific consulate — there’s no single fixed timeline across all embassies.
Does the one-year jump in F2B, F3, and F4 dates apply to applicants from Mexico?
No: Mexico is tracked separately for the F1, F2A, and F3 categories, and its dates move in smaller increments — weeks or a month, rather than a full year as seen for the rest of the world, China, and India.
Why did employment-based categories move less in November 2026 than family categories did?
It comes down to visa number availability, not the categories themselves: family categories gained a surplus after a previously active pause on issuance was lifted, while employment-based categories have no such surplus. That’s why EB2 and EB3 advanced only a few months, while F2B, F3, and F4 jumped a full year.
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