Chinese applicants gain as family and EB-1 dates advance for November 2026

The U.S. Department of State has released its Visa Bulletin for November 2026, updating the priority date cut-offs that decide who can move forward with an application for permanent residence in the United States. The overall picture is positive, especially in the EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based categories, though most filing dates stay where they are.

Key facts

• The U.S. Department of State released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, updated on 22 October 2026.
• Family-based categories F-1, F-2B, F-3 and F-4 advance by approximately one year for most countries, including China.
• EB-2 moves forward three months for most countries, Mexico and the Philippines; China's EB-2 date is unchanged.
• China's EB-1 cut-off advances by one month, to 1-Aug-23.
• USCIS has confirmed that people filing for adjustment of status in November may continue to use the Dates for Filing charts.

What is changing in November?

In the family-sponsored categories, most countries see forward movement of roughly 12 months under the Final Action Dates chart in F-1 (unmarried children aged 21 and older of U.S. citizens), F-2B (unmarried children aged 21 or older of green card holders), F-3 (married children of U.S. citizens) and F-4 (siblings of U.S. citizens). F-2A (spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders) advances by one month.

On the employment side, EB-2 (exceptional people and advanced degree holders) moves forward three months for most countries, Mexico and the Philippines, while EB-3 (skilled workers and professionals) advances one month for most countries and Mexico. EB-3 "other worker" advances five months for most countries and Mexico. China and India see more modest EB-3 movement, and China's EB-1 category advances by one month.

What changes for Chinese applicants?

For China, the family-based cut-offs move forward by 12 months in F-1 (to 22-Jan-21), F-2B (to 22-Aug-20), F-3 (to 22-Oct-15) and F-4 (to 22-Oct-12). F-2A advances one month to 22-Oct-26.

In the employment-based categories, China's EB-1 date moves one month to 1-Aug-23, and EB-3 skilled worker or professional advances 14 days to 22-Jan-22. There is no change for China in EB-2 (1-Oct-21), EB-3 other worker (1-Oct-19), EB-4 (15-Dec-22) or EB-5 investors (1-Dec-16).

Can applicants file new applications in November?

Most Dates for Filing remain unchanged, so the advance in Final Action Dates does not necessarily widen the group of people who can submit new applications. USCIS has confirmed that applicants filing for adjustment of status in November may continue using the Dates for Filing charts, and should review the USCIS Visa Bulletin page to confirm eligibility before filing.

What is a priority date, and why do some countries wait longer?

A priority date is usually the date the green card petition was first filed. Countries with high demand face longer backlogs, so their cut-off dates move more slowly and can sometimes go backward, an effect known as retrogression. The Visa Bulletin cannot give an exact waiting time; the source suggests tracking the pattern in a given category over several months.

What this means for travellers and applicants

Anyone waiting on a U.S. green card should compare their priority date with the November 2026 cut-off for their category and country of chargeability, and confirm on the USCIS Visa Bulletin page whether they can file before taking any step. Chinese applicants in family-based categories and EB-1 are the main beneficiaries this month, while most filing dates are unchanged.

The November 2026 bulletin is in force for filings during November. The source gives no date for the next bulletin.