November 2026 Visa Bulletin: What Green Card Applicants Need to Know

The U.S. Department of State has released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, which determines when family-based and employment-based immigrants may move forward in the green card process.

For people waiting for a green card, understanding your priority date, preference category, and country of chargeability is essential. A change in the Visa Bulletin will determine when you can file an application or when a green card can finally be approved.

Family-Based Applicants

For spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents, the F2A category remains current for all countries on the November 2026 Dates for Filing chart. For November 2026, the Dates for Filing chart lists F2A as current for all countries.

Even more importantly for people applying for adjustment of status in the United States, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that family-sponsored applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart for November 2026.

That can create an important filing opportunity for some applicants.

November 2026 Family-Based Dates for Filing

Category	Most Countries	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Feb. 1, 2021	Dec. 1, 2008	Apr. 22, 2015
F2A	Current	Current	Current
F2B	Sept. 1, 2020	Mar. 22, 2011	Oct. 1, 2014
F3	Nov. 1, 2015	Dec. 1, 2002	Oct. 22, 2006
F4	Nov. 1, 2012	Apr. 30, 2001	Mar. 22, 2009

India has a separate F4 filing date of February 1, 2007; otherwise its family filing dates shown above generally track the “Most Countries” column.

Employment-Based Green Cards

USCIS is also allowing employment-based applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart in November 2026.

Some important filing dates include:

• EB-1: Current for most countries; July 1, 2024 for China and India.

• EB-2: March 15, 2026 for most countries; January 1, 2023 for China; January 15, 2015 for India.

• EB-3: August 1, 2024 for most countries; April 1, 2024 for China; January 15, 2015 for India; January 1, 2024 for the Philippines.

• EB-4: January 1, 2025 for all listed countries.

• EB-5 set-aside categories: Current for all listed countries.

What Does “Current” Mean?

When the Visa Bulletin shows“C” or “Current,” there is no priority-date cutoff for that category for purposes of that particular chart. When a date appears instead, an applicant needs a priority date earlier than the listed cutoff date to be granted an immigrant visa and permanent residency.

The priority date generally determines a person's place in the immigrant visa queue. Because family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas are numerically limited, applicants may have to wait until a visa becomes available in their category.

Filing a Green Card Application Is Not the Same as Green Card Approval

This distinction is important.

USCIS is using the Dates for Filing charts for both family-sponsored and employment-based adjustment-of-status cases in November. However, being eligible to file Form I-485 does not necessarily mean USCIS can immediately approve the green card. Visa availability for final approval involves the applicable Final Action Date.

Your eligibility also depends on much more than your priority date, including the underlying immigration category and whether you otherwise qualify for adjustment of status.

Should You Review Your Case Now?

If you have an approved or pending family or employment petition and have been waiting for your priority date, November may be a good time to review your case.

A careful review can determine:

• Your correct immigration preference category;

• Your priority date and country of chargeability;

• Whether your priority date is current for filing;

• Whether you may be eligible to file Form I-485; and

• Whether other immigration issues could affect your eligibility.

Talk With an Immigration Attorney

Visa Bulletin rules can be confusing, and seemingly small differences in priority dates, immigration history, or family circumstances can significantly affect a case.

Raul Rodriguez Law helps individuals and families understand their immigration options and determine the next step in the green card process.

Contact our office to schedule a consultation and discuss how the November 2026 Visa Bulletin may affect your case.

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Visa availability and immigration rules can change, and individual circumstances vary.