The U.S. State Department’s November 2026 Visa Bulletin, dated October 5, moves the employment-based second and third preference cutoffs forward for most countries, and holds the EB-5 dates where they were in October. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) says applicants filing for adjustment of status in November must use the Dates for Filing chart for both family-sponsored and employment-based categories.
Employment-based final action dates
A final action date is the cutoff for approving a green card: only applicants with a priority date earlier than the listed date can be approved. “Current” means there is no cutoff. The table shows the November date, with October’s date in brackets where it changed.
| Category | All other countries | China (mainland born) | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Aug. 1, 2023 (Jul. 1, 2023) | Feb. 1, 2023 |
| EB-2 | Apr. 1, 2025 (Jan. 1, 2025) | Oct. 1, 2021 | Nov. 1, 2013 |
| EB-3 | Jun. 15, 2024 (May 15, 2024) | Jan. 22, 2022 (Jan. 8, 2022) | Jan. 22, 2014 (Jan. 1, 2014) |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Jun. 1, 2022 (Jan. 1, 2022) | Oct. 1, 2019 | Jan. 22, 2014 (Jan. 1, 2014) |
| EB-4 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 |
| EB-5 unreserved | Current | Dec. 1, 2016 | Dec. 1, 2023 |
| EB-5 rural, high unemployment and infrastructure set-asides | Current | Current | Current |
The Philippines and Mexico follow the all-other-countries dates in most employment categories. The full table is in the bulletin.
Which chart USCIS accepts
Each bulletin has two charts. USCIS decides each month which one applicants in the United States may use to file for adjustment of status. For November 2026, USCIS says applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart for all family-sponsored and all employment-based categories. USCIS adds that if a category is current on the Final Action Dates chart, or its final action date is later than the Dates for Filing date, applicants in that category may use the Final Action Dates chart that month.
| Employment-based Dates for Filing | All other countries | China (mainland born) | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Jul. 1, 2024 | Jul. 1, 2024 |
| EB-2 | Mar. 15, 2026 | Jan. 1, 2023 | Jan. 15, 2015 |
| EB-3 | Aug. 1, 2024 | Apr. 1, 2024 | Jan. 15, 2015 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Jul. 1, 2022 (Jun. 1, 2022) | Oct. 1, 2020 | Jan. 15, 2015 |
| EB-5 unreserved | Current | Mar. 1, 2021 | May 1, 2024 |
Family-sponsored categories
Final action dates for most countries advanced in every family preference category:
- F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents): Oct. 22, 2026, up from Sep. 22, 2026.
- F1 (unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens): Jan. 22, 2021, up from Jan. 22, 2020.
- F2B (unmarried adult children of permanent residents): Aug. 22, 2020, up from Aug. 22, 2019.
- F3 (married children of U.S. citizens): Oct. 22, 2015, up from Oct. 22, 2014.
- F4 (siblings of adult U.S. citizens): Oct. 22, 2012, up from Oct. 22, 2011.
Weighing a U.S. green card route?
We keep every month’s dates on our Visa Bulletin tracker.
What to watch
Analysis. The EB-5 dates for China and India did not move, and the set-aside categories stay current. The State Department can change cutoffs in later bulletins, including by moving them back. Which chart USCIS allows can change each month, so the December bulletin and USCIS notice are the next dates to check.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for November 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for October 2026 (for the comparison dates)
- USCIS, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Cutoff dates and chart rules change, so confirm details with the State Department and USCIS before acting. See our disclaimer.
Published October 26, 2026. Last updated October 26, 2026.
