November brings genuinely encouraging news for family-sponsored applicants. Four family categories advanced a full year for most countries, which is the kind of movement we rarely see in a single month.

On the employment side, several categories recovered ground that was lost in October, though applicants chargeable to India are still waiting.

At Garvish Immigration Law Group, we break this down every month so you know exactly where you stand.

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin has two charts that matter:

Final Action Dates (Chart A): the date your green card can actually be approved. Your priority date must be earlier than the listed date for your case to move forward.

Dates for Filing (Chart B): the date you are allowed to file for Adjustment of Status, even if a green card number is not yet available.

For November 2026, USCIS has confirmed that both family-sponsored and employment-based applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility.

The Headlines This Month

Family categories advanced a full year. F1, F2B, F3, and F4 each moved forward twelve months for most countries, including China and India.

EB-2 recovered. After retrogressing in October, the Rest of World, Mexico, and Philippines final action dates advanced three months.

EB-3 Other Workers made the largest employment gain, advancing five months for Rest of World and Mexico.

India remains largely frozen in EB-1 and EB-2, with small advancement in EB-3.

Filing dates barely moved. Almost every Dates for Filing entry held steady, with one exception noted below.

Final Action Dates

Employment-Based Green Cards

  • EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Managers)
    • China: Advances 1 month to August 1, 2023
    • India: No movement
    • All other countries: Remain current 
  • EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals, National Interest Waivers)
    • China & India: No movement
    • All other countries: Advance 3 months to April 1, 2025
  • EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals)
    • China: Advances 2 weeks to January 22, 2022
    • India: Advances 3 weeks to January 22, 2014
    • Philippines: No movement
    • All other countries: Advance 1 month to June 15, 2024 
  • EB-3 (Other Workers)
    • China & Philippines: No movement
    • India: Advances 3 weeks to January 22, 2014
    • All other countries and Mexico: Advance 5 months to June 1, 2022 
  • EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants)
    • All countries: No movement, remains at December 15, 2022 
  • EB-4 (Certain Religious Workers)
    • All countries: No movement, remains at December 15, 2022 
  • EB-5 (Set-Aside Categories: Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure)
    • All countries: Remain current 
  • EB-5 (Unreserved)
    • China & India: No movementI
    • All other countries: Remain current

Family-Sponsored Green Cards

  • F-1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. Citizens)
    • Philippines: No movement
    • Mexico: Advances 2 weeks to September 22, 2008
    • All Other countries: Advance 1 year to January 22, 2021 
  • F-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents)
    • Mexico: Advances 1 month to April 22, 2026
    • All other countries: Advances 1 month to October 22, 2026 
  • F-2B (Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Permanent Residents)
    • Philippines & Mexico: No movement
    • All Others: Advance 1 year to August 22, 2020 
  • F-3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines: No movement
    • Mexico: Advances 2 weeks to July 15, 2001
    • All Other countries: Advance 1 year to October 22, 2015 
  • F-4 (Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines, India and Mexico: No movement
    • All Other countries: Advance 1 year to October 22, 2012

Dates for Filing

Employment-Based Green Cards

Nearly every entry on this chart held steady from October. The one change:

  • EB-3 (Other Workers)
    • All other countries and Mexico: Advance 1 month to July 1, 2022
    • China, India, Philippines: No movement 
  • EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals, EB-4, Certain Religious Workers, and all EB-5 categories remain unchanged from October.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards

  • F-1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. Citizens)
    • Mexico & Philippines: No movement
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance 1 year to February 1, 2021 
  • F-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents)
    • All countries: Current 
  • F-2B (Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Permanent Residents)
    • Mexico & Philippines: No movement
    • All Other countries: Advance 1 year to September 1, 2020 
  • F-3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines & Mexico: No movement
    • All Other countries: Advance 1 year to November 1, 2015 
  • F-4 (Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines, India & Mexico: No movement
    • All Others: Advance 1 year to November 1, 2012

Our Guidance to You

If you are family-sponsored, please check your priority date this month. A full year of movement across four categories means a great many people just became eligible who were not eligible in October. If you have been waiting a long time, this is a good month to look again.

If you are in EB-2 chargeable to the Rest of World, Mexico, or the Philippines, the three-month advance recovers ground lost when the category retrogressed in October. Worth rechecking where you stand.

If you are in EB-3 Other Workers, the five-month advance for the Rest of World and Mexico is the largest employment movement this month.

One practical note on timing. Early in a fiscal year is generally the most favorable window, since visa numbers are freshly allocated and demand has not yet caught up. If your date is current and you are eligible to file, acting sooner is usually better than waiting.

As always, the Visa Bulletin is a marathon rather than a sprint. If your category did not move this month, that is ordinary and not a reflection of your case.

Stay Connected

We monitor the Visa Bulletin every month and advise our clients on what it means for their situation. If you have questions about November or want help planning your next step, Garvish Immigration Law Group is here.

Reach out to us today.