Quick Hits
- The November Visa Bulletin shows minimal movement under the Dates for Filing chart, with only the EB-3 “Other Workers” category advancing.
- The Visa Bulletin shows modest movement on the Final Action Dates chart for EB-2 and EB-3 for several chargeability areas. USCIS has confirmed that employment-based adjustment-of-status applicants may file in November using the Dates for Filing chart in the November Visa Bulletin.
Dates for Filing Control for November 2026 Filing Eligibility
The Dates for Filing chart shows no movement from October, except for “Other Workers” in the “All Chargeability” and “Mexico” categories. USCIS has confirmed applicants may use this chart for November employment-based adjustment filings.
That makes filing eligibility and final-approval timing two separate tracks this month: the Dates for Filing chart controls whether Form I-485 can be filed now (along with related Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and advance parole eligibility), while the Final Action Dates chart still controls final approval.
- EB-1: Unchanged
- EB-2: Unchanged
- EB-3: Unchanged
- EB-3 Other Workers: Mexico and China advance to July 1, 2022 (from June 1, 2022)
- EB-5 Unreserved: Unchanged
| Employment-Based Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China-Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
| EB-1 | Current | July 1, 2024 | July 1, 2024 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | March 15, 2026 | January 1, 2023 | January 15, 2015 | March 15, 2026 | March 15, 2026 |
| EB-3 | August 1, 2024 | April 1, 2024 | January 15, 2015 | August 1, 2024 | January 1, 2024 |
| Other Workers | July 1, 2022 | October 1, 2020 | January 15, 2015 | July 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | March 1, 2021 | May 1, 2024 | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Set Aside Categories: Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
Source: U.S. Department of State, November 2026 Visa Bulletin
Notably, the EB-2 and EB-3 filing dates for All Chargeability Areas and Mexico (March 15, 2026, and August 1, 2024, respectively) remain well ahead of the corresponding final action dates, so many affected applicants can file in November even though final approval will have to wait. Employees whose priority dates are current under the Dates for Filing chart but not under the Final Action Dates chart may file Form I-485 and may be eligible for interim benefits (an EAD and advance parole) while their cases await final action.
Final Action Dates (Approval/Visa Issuance)
- EB-1: China advances to August 1, 2023 (from July 1, 2023). India is unchanged at February 1, 2023. Rest of World, Mexico, and the Philippines remain current.
- EB-2: Rest of World, Mexico, and the Philippines advance to April 1, 2025 (from January 1, 2025). India remains unchanged at November 1, 2013. China remains unchanged at October 1, 2021.
- EB-3: Rest of World and Mexico advance to June 15, 2024 (from May 15, 2024). China advances to January 22, 2022 (from January 8, 2022). India advances to January 22, 2014 (from January 1, 2014). The Philippines remains unchanged at August 15, 2023.
- EB-3 Other Workers: Rest of World and Mexico advance to June 1, 2022 (from January 1, 2022). India advances to January 22, 2014 (from January 1, 2014). China unchanged at October 1, 2019. The Philippines remains unchanged at January 1, 2022.
- EB-4/Religious Workers: Unchanged at December 15, 2022, across all countries. H.R. 6500 (signed September 2, 2026) extends the Religious Workers category through December 11, 2026.
- EB-5 Unreserved: China is unchanged at December 1, 2016. India is unchanged at December 1, 2023. Rest of World, Mexico, and the Philippines remain current.
- EB-5 Set Aside Categories: Remain current.
| Employment-Based Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China-Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
| EB-1 | Current | August 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | April 1, 2025 | October 1, 2021 | November 1, 2013 | April 1, 2025 | April 1, 2025 |
| EB-3 | June 15, 2024 | January 22, 2022 | January 22, 2014 | June 15, 2024 | August 15, 2023 |
| Other Workers | June 1, 2022 | October 1, 2019 | January 22, 2014 | June 1, 2022 | January 1, 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | December 1, 2016 | December 1, 2023 | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Set Aside Categories: Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
Source: U.S. Department of State, November 2026 Visa Bulletin
Because USCIS has authorized use of the Dates for Filing chart, this month’s final action advances primarily affect when pending cases can be approved, not whether new cases can be filed in November. Since USCIS reassesses chart selection monthly, this authorization is not guaranteed to carry into December.
Next Steps
With USCIS’s confirmation that the Dates for Filing chart governs November 2026 employment-based adjustment filings, the gap between the two charts may be relevant to employers and foreign national employees whose priority dates fall between the dates for filing cutoff and the final action date. Some pending applications may also move closer to approval as a result of this month’s final action advances in the EB-1 China, EB-2, and EB-3 categories. Since USCIS evaluates which chart to use monthly, it remains unclear whether the November authorization will extend into December 2026. Even with this month’s progress, applicants chargeable to China and India continue to face significant backlogs in the EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and EB-5 categories, which may continue to affect long-term work-authorization planning.
Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group will continue to monitor developments and will provide updates on the Immigration blog as additional information becomes available.
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