Accurate as of October 27, 2026
Госдеп США →Key facts
On October 22, 2026, the US Department of State published the Visa Bulletin for November 2026. The key points for applicants from "rest of world" countries: EB-1 remains current, the EB-2 Final Action date (including NIW) advanced three months, EB-3 moved one month, and the main family categories F1, F2B, F3 and F4 advanced about a year. In November, USCIS accepts I-485 filings under the Dates for Filing chart in all categories.
In short:
- EB-1 (including EB-1A), All Chargeability: Current in both charts, unchanged.
- EB-2 (including NIW), All Chargeability: Final Action 01APR25 (01JAN25 in October); Dates for Filing unchanged at 15MAR26.
- EB-3, All Chargeability: Final Action 15JUN24 (was 15MAY24); Dates for Filing 01AUG24.
- EB-5 unreserved, All Chargeability: Current, unchanged.
- Family F1, F2B, F3, F4 (All Chargeability): Final Action dates advanced 12 months. F2A: Final Action 22OCT26, Dates for Filing Current.
- For I-485 in November, USCIS accepts the Dates for Filing chart for both family and employment categories.
This is a short news update. For a breakdown of the October bulletin and EB-1A and NIW approval statistics, see EB-1A and EB-2 NIW in 2026.
Who uses the All Chargeability column
The bulletin queue is based on country of birth (chargeability), not citizenship. Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Belarus are not listed separately, so people born there use the All Chargeability column (also called Rest of World). China (mainland-born), India, Mexico and the Philippines have their own columns.
Employment-based categories: November vs. October
| Category | Country | Final Action (November) | Final Action (October) | Dates for Filing (November) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | All Chargeability | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-1 | China | 01AUG23 | 01JUL23 | 01JUL24 |
| EB-1 | India | 01FEB23 | 01FEB23 | 01JUL24 |
| EB-2 | All Chargeability | 01APR25 | 01JAN25 | 15MAR26 |
| EB-2 | China | 01OCT21 | 01OCT21 | 01JAN23 |
| EB-2 | India | 01NOV13 | 01NOV13 | 15JAN15 |
| EB-3 | All Chargeability | 15JUN24 | 15MAY24 | 01AUG24 |
| EB-3 | China | 22JAN22 | 08JAN22 | 01APR24 |
| EB-3 | India | 22JAN14 | 01JAN14 | 15JAN15 |
| EB-5 unreserved | All Chargeability | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 unreserved | China | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | 01MAR21 |
| EB-5 unreserved | India | 01DEC23 | 01DEC23 | 01MAY24 |
State Department bulletin data as reported by Boundless, Manifest Law, BAL and Envoy Global. Dates as of October 27, 2026.
The employment-based Dates for Filing chart barely changed in November. The exception is EB-3 Other Workers (unskilled workers): for All Chargeability, Dates for Filing moved from 01JUN22 to 01JUL22, and Final Action from 01JAN22 to 01JUN22. The EB-5 set-aside categories (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) are Current in the Dates for Filing chart. More on EB-5 on the EB-5 page.
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Family-sponsored categories: November vs. October
| Category | Final Action (November) | Final Action (October) | Dates for Filing (November) |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 — unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens, 21+ | 22JAN21 | 22JAN20 | 01FEB21 |
| F2A — spouses and children under 21 of permanent residents | 22OCT26 | 22SEP26 | Current |
| F2B — unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents, 21+ | 22AUG20 | 22AUG19 | 01SEP20 |
| F3 — married sons and daughters of US citizens | 22OCT15 | 22OCT14 | 01NOV15 |
| F4 — brothers and sisters of US citizens | 22OCT12 | 22OCT11 | 01NOV12 |
All Chargeability. As reported by Boundless, Manifest Law, Ahluwalia Law and CitizenPath.
For China and India, the Final Action dates for F1, F2A, F2B and F3 are the same as for All Chargeability. For F4, China is also at 22OCT12, while India did not move (15DEC06). Mexico and the Philippines have separate dates.
Spouses, parents and unmarried children under 21 of US citizens (immediate relatives) are not subject to annual limits and do not appear in the bulletin. See our guides on the marriage green card and the green card for parents.
Which chart USCIS accepts for I-485 in November
According to USCIS, as reported by Manifest Law, National Law Review and Ahluwalia Law, in November 2026 applicants in all family-sponsored and employment-based categories file I-485 under the Dates for Filing chart.
In practice:
- You can file I-485 if your priority date is earlier than the date in the Dates for Filing chart and you meet the other requirements for adjustment of status.
- USCIS can approve the green card only once the priority date is current under the Final Action chart.
- F2A: the category is Current in the Dates for Filing chart, so spouses and children under 21 of permanent residents who are lawfully in the US and otherwise eligible can file I-485 in November regardless of their priority date.
For consular processing through NVC, the State Department schedules interviews based on the Final Action chart. For the immigrant visa pause affecting a number of countries, see our article on the 75-country pause.
Example (hypothetical): an EB-2 NIW I-140 is approved with a priority date of February 10, 2026, and the applicant is in the US in O-1 status. In November, the date is earlier than 15MAR26 (Dates for Filing), so I-485 can be filed. A green card decision becomes possible once Final Action reaches February 2026; it is currently 01APR25.
What this means for EB-1A, NIW and family cases
- EB-1A. For people born in All Chargeability countries there is still no queue: I-140 and I-485 can be filed concurrently. More on the EB-1A page.
- EB-2 NIW. The Final Action backlog has shrunk but is still about a year and a half. I-485 can be filed with a priority date before March 15, 2026. More on the EB-2 NIW page.
- Family categories. A one-year jump for F1, F2B, F3 and F4 is a notable acceleration. If your priority date now falls within the new window, check your document package for NVC or for I-485.
What comes next
The bulletin does not include a forecast for the coming months, and dates can move forward or backward (retrogression). USCIS announces separately each month which chart it accepts for I-485. The December bulletin usually comes out in the second half of November. We will update this article when it is published.
How M&M can help
- Priority date check. We compare the date on your I-797 against both charts and tell you when your filing window opens.
- Document preparation. Forms I-485, I-765, I-131, the NVC package, and certified translations.
- Work with partner attorneys. Legal assessment of your case is provided by a licensed immigration attorney. Contact us — our office is at 1944 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State: Visa Bulletin for November 2026 (PDF)
- USCIS: When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application — November 2026
- Manifest Law: November 2026 Visa Bulletin: Key Date Changes (10/22/2026)
- Boundless: November 2026 Visa Bulletin
- National Law Review: November 2026 Visa Bulletin: Key Updates and Priority Date Movement (10/26/2026)
- Ahluwalia Law: November 2026 Visa Bulletin: What Moved and Which Chart Applies
- BAL: November 2026 Visa Bulletin
- Envoy Global: November 2026 Visa Bulletin
- CitizenPath: Weekly Immigration News
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. M&M Document Preparation is not a law firm. Information is current as of October 27, 2026.
FAQ
According to USCIS, as reported by Manifest Law, National Law Review and Ahluwalia Law, applicants in all family-sponsored and employment-based categories file I-485 under the Dates for Filing chart in November 2026. A green card can be approved only once the priority date is current under the Final Action chart.
