November 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-1 and EB-2 Dates Explained

EB-2 Rest of World advances three months to April 1, 2025 in the November 2026 Visa Bulletin. See every EB-1 and EB-2 date and which chart USCIS uses.

IMMIGRATION INSIGHTS

10/22/20265 min read

The November 2026 Visa Bulletin brings a small but welcome recovery for EB-2. After retrogressing from Current to January 1, 2025 in October, the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World, Mexico and the Philippines moves forward three months to April 1, 2025. EB-1 stays current for most of the world, and EB-1 China gains one month.

If you have an approved or pending EB-2 NIW or EB-1A petition, this guide explains every EB-1 and EB-2 date in the bulletin, which chart USCIS is using for adjustment of status filings, and what the numbers mean for your next step.

Key takeaways

EB-2 Rest of World Final Action Date advances from January 1, 2025 to April 1, 2025. The same date applies to Mexico and the Philippines.
EB-1 remains Current for Rest of World, Mexico and the Philippines. EB-1 China advances to August 1, 2023, and EB-1 India holds at February 1, 2023.
EB-2 India holds at November 1, 2013 and EB-2 China holds at October 1, 2021.
All employment-based Dates for Filing hold at their October levels, including March 15, 2026 for EB-2 Rest of World.
USCIS has indicated it will accept employment-based adjustment of status filings under the Dates for Filing chart in November 2026. Confirm on the USCIS website before you file.

November 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-1 dates

The State Department publishes two charts for each category. The Final Action Date is when a green card can actually be issued. The Date for Filing is the earlier point at which you may submit your application, if USCIS says it will honor that chart for the month.

EB-1 Final Action Dates

Rest of World: Current
China: August 1, 2023 (up from July 1, 2023)
India: February 1, 2023 (no change)
Mexico: Current
Philippines: Current

EB-1 Dates for Filing

Rest of World: Current
China: July 1, 2024
India: July 1, 2024
Mexico: Current
Philippines: Current

November 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 dates

EB-2 covers both advanced degree professionals and people with exceptional ability, which includes everyone filing an EB-2 National Interest Waiver.

EB-2 Final Action Dates

Rest of World: April 1, 2025 (up from January 1, 2025)
China: October 1, 2021 (no change)
India: November 1, 2013 (no change)
Mexico: April 1, 2025
Philippines: April 1, 2025

EB-2 Dates for Filing

Rest of World: March 15, 2026
China: January 1, 2023
India: January 15, 2015
Mexico: March 15, 2026
Philippines: March 15, 2026

Always check the official Visa Bulletin for November 2026 on the State Department website for the authoritative figures.

Which chart USCIS is using in November 2026

Each month, USCIS decides whether applicants inside the United States may file Form I-485 using the Dates for Filing chart or must wait for the Final Action Date. For November 2026, USCIS has indicated it will honor the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based cases, the same approach it took in October.

In practice, that means an EB-2 NIW applicant from a Rest of World country with a priority date earlier than March 15, 2026 may be able to file an adjustment of status application this month, even though the green card itself cannot be approved until the priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date. USCIS confirms its choice on its Adjustment of Status Filing Charts page, and it can change from month to month.

Applicants processing abroad follow a different rule. The National Visa Center and consulates schedule interviews based on the Final Action Date only. Our guide to NIW consular processing explains that path.

What changed from October to November

The movement is modest:

EB-2 Rest of World, Mexico and Philippines Final Action Dates advanced three months.
EB-1 China advanced one month.
Every other EB-1 and EB-2 date, and every Date for Filing, held steady.

The bulletin itself does not include projections for the coming months. It notes that EB-1 and EB-2 each receive 28.6 percent of the worldwide employment-based limit, and that the per-country limit is 25,620 visas for fiscal year 2027. For context on the October retrogression, see our breakdown of the October 2026 Visa Bulletin.

What the November 2026 bulletin means for NIW and EB-1A applicants

If your I-140 is approved and your date is current

If you are a Rest of World EB-2 applicant with a priority date before April 1, 2025, a visa number is available. If your I-485 is already pending, USCIS can approve it once its review is complete. If you have not filed, you may file now.

If your priority date falls between April 1, 2025 and March 15, 2026

You may be able to file your I-485 under the Dates for Filing chart while USCIS honors it. Filing early can let you apply for a work permit and advance parole while you wait. The green card is approved only when the Final Action Date passes your priority date.

If you are filing a new NIW now

A petition filed in late 2026 will receive a 2026 priority date. With EB-2 Rest of World Final Action at April 2025, expect to wait for a visa number after the I-140 is approved. Regular NIW I-140 processing is already around 30 months, so the I-140 timeline may overlap with the wait. Our guide to NIW processing time in 2026 explains premium processing and when it pays off.

If you qualify for EB-1A

EB-1 remains current for Rest of World. For applicants with strong evidence of sustained acclaim, EB-1A can mean no visa bulletin wait at all once the petition is approved. The tradeoff is a higher bar. Read EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, or O-1: How the Three Paths Actually Differ before choosing.

If you are from India or China

EB-2 India at November 1, 2013 and EB-2 China at October 1, 2021 reflect years of backlog. Many applicants from these countries consider EB-1A when their record supports it, because the EB-1 dates for India and China are several years more advanced.

How to read your priority date

Your priority date is the date USCIS received your I-140 petition. You will find it on your I-797 receipt or approval notice. Compare it to the chart that applies to you:

Find your category (EB-1 or EB-2) and your country of chargeability, which is usually your country of birth.
If you are adjusting status in the US, check which chart USCIS is honoring this month.
If your priority date is earlier than the date shown, you are current for that chart.

"C" means Current, so every priority date qualifies. "U" means Unavailable, so no visas can be issued in that category that month.

Plan your petition around the dates

Visa bulletin movement is outside your control. The quality of your petition is not. Since August 5, 2026, USCIS officers may deny a petition that lacks required initial evidence without first issuing a request for evidence, so a complete and well-supported first filing matters more than ever.

If you are deciding between EB-1A and NIW, or want to know whether your record is ready to file, book a 1-hour profile consultation with HoatPen. The $100 fee is credited toward your writing package if you move forward.

Frequently asked questions

Did EB-2 move in the November 2026 Visa Bulletin?

Yes. The EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World, Mexico and the Philippines advanced three months, from January 1, 2025 to April 1, 2025. EB-2 China and EB-2 India did not move.

Is EB-1 current in November 2026?

EB-1 is current for Rest of World, Mexico and the Philippines. EB-1 China has a Final Action Date of August 1, 2023, and EB-1 India has a Final Action Date of February 1, 2023.

Which chart is USCIS using for November 2026?

USCIS has indicated it will accept employment-based I-485 filings under the Dates for Filing chart in November 2026. Check the USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Charts page to confirm before filing.

Can I file my I-485 in November 2026 with an EB-2 NIW?

If you are in the US, eligible to adjust status, and your EB-2 Rest of World priority date is earlier than March 15, 2026, you may be able to file this month under the Dates for Filing chart. Confirm your eligibility with an immigration attorney.

When will EB-2 India become current?

No one can predict that reliably. The EB-2 India Final Action Date of November 1, 2013 reflects a backlog of many years, and the State Department does not publish long-range forecasts.

HoatPen is a technical writing and consulting service, not a law firm. This article is general information and is not legal advice. Visa bulletin dates change monthly; confirm current figures with the U.S. Department of State and USCIS before filing.

Navigation

admin@hoatpen.com

+1 (640) 344-3582

Disclaimer

HoatPen ~ part of HoatGroup LLC, is a technical writing and consulting service, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice or representation in any jurisdiction. Our services focus on helping clients prepare high-quality written materials, including petitions, recommendation letters, and supporting documents based on publicly available immigration guidelines and professional writing standards.