November Visa Bulletin Moves Forward on EB-2 & EB-3, But Don't Celebrate Too Fast
November 2026 Visa Bulletin Brings Forward Movement After October's Pullback
The State Department released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, and the employment-based categories are moving in the right direction after October's retrogression shook up the start of FY2027. EB-2 advanced three months for most countries, Mexico, and the Philippines, pushing the final action date to April 1, 2025. EB-3 skilled workers moved forward one month for most countries and Mexico. China picked up modest gains in both EB-3 (14 days) and EB-1 (one month), while India's EB-3 advanced 21 days. USCIS confirmed that applicants filing for adjustment of status in November may continue using the Dates for Filing charts. That said, most Dates for Filing remain unchanged, which means the forward movement in final action dates brings some applicants closer to green card approval but does not necessarily expand who can file new applications this month.
On the family-based side, November delivers broad progress. F-1, F-2B, F-3, and F-4 all advanced roughly one year for most countries under the Final Action Dates chart. F-2A moved forward by one month. Mexico and the Philippines remain stuck in several categories, a pattern that has held for most of the fiscal year.
Key Employment-Based Movements:
EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researchers, Multinational Executives): China advanced one month to August 1, 2023. India held at February 1, 2023. All other countries remain current.
EB-2 (Advanced Degree Holders, Exceptional Ability): Most countries, Mexico, and the Philippines advanced three months to April 1, 2025. China held at October 1, 2021. India held at November 1, 2013.
EB-3 Skilled Workers/Professionals: Most countries and Mexico advanced one month to June 15, 2024. China advanced 14 days to January 22, 2022. India advanced 21 days to January 22, 2014. Philippines held at August 15, 2023.
EB-3 Other Workers: Most countries and Mexico jumped five months to June 1, 2022. China held at October 1, 2019. India advanced 21 days to January 22, 2014. Philippines held at January 1, 2022.
EB-4 (Special Immigrants): No movement across any country. All dates held at December 15, 2022.
EB-5 (Investors): No movement. China held at December 1, 2016. India held at December 1, 2023. All other countries remain current.
The PERM Takeaway: After October's retrogression rattled employers and employees watching their priority dates, November's forward movement is a welcome correction. The three-month EB-2 advance for most countries is the standout. If you have sponsored employees with approved I-140s and priority dates before April 1, 2025, their cases just became current or moved closer. Counsel should be reviewing every pending case against the updated chart to identify who can now file for adjustment of status or who has moved into the Dates for Filing window.
The India and China backlogs remain the long-term challenge. India EB-2 is still sitting at November 2013, which means a 13-year wait from priority date to final action. China EB-2 is frozen at October 2021. For employers sponsoring workers from these countries, the November bulletin does not change the fundamental math. The EB-3 Other Workers category saw the most aggressive movement this month, jumping five months for most countries and Mexico. Employers with pending cases in that category should check whether any of their employees crossed into current status.
The fact that most Dates for Filing did not move is worth paying attention to. Forward movement in final action dates without corresponding movement in filing dates means fewer new applications entering the pipeline, even as some existing cases advance toward approval. That gap affects workforce planning because it determines when a sponsored employee can actually submit their adjustment paperwork.
Employers should be tracking the Visa Bulletin monthly and matching it against their active PERM and I-140 cases. Every month that a priority date advances is an opportunity to move a case forward, and missing that window because nobody checked the bulletin is an avoidable mistake.
Stay sharp, stay compliant, and we'll see you next week.
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