For thousands of people, the November 2026 visa bulletin means the green card they have waited years for is finally within reach. For others, it hides a detail that could leave them stuck in place while everyone around them moves ahead. EB-2 approvals jumped three months forward, and the date that decides who can file did not move at all.
Which side are you on? This guide breaks down the November 2026 visa bulletin in plain English, shows you exactly who gains, and gives you the steps to take before the month ends. It is written for founders, executives, and skilled professionals, with a close look at what the dates mean if you were born in Africa. If you are new to the bulletin, start with our green card bulletin guide and come back here for this month’s details.
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November 2026 Visa Bulletin at a Glance
- The State Department released Visa Bulletin Number 20 for November 2026, the second bulletin of fiscal year 2027.
- USCIS lets applicants inside the US use the Dates for Filing chart for both employment and family cases this month.
- EB-2 final action moves three months to April 1, 2025, for all countries except China and India.
- EB-3 skilled workers move one month to June 15, 2024, and EB-3 other workers move five months to June 1, 2022, for most countries.
- EB-1 and EB-5 remain unchanged for most countries.
- Four family categories (F1, F2B, F3, and F4) move forward a full year for most countries.
- The employment Dates for Filing chart barely changed. Only EB-3 other workers moved.
- No category moved backward from October.
What Moved and Who Gains
The tables below use the column for every country except China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines. Most people call it ROW.
Employment-Based Categories (ROW)
| Category | Final Action, October | Final Action, November | Date for Filing, November |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 (includes NIW) | Jan 1, 2025 | Apr 1, 2025 | Mar 15, 2026 (no change) |
| EB-3 skilled workers and professionals | May 15, 2024 | Jun 15, 2024 | Aug 1, 2024 (no change) |
| EB-3 other workers | Jan 1, 2022 | Jun 1, 2022 | Jul 1, 2022 (up 1 month) |
| EB-5 unreserved | Current | Current | Current |
Family-Sponsored Categories (ROW)
| Category | Final Action, October | Final Action, November | Date for Filing, November |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jan 22, 2020 | Jan 22, 2021 | Feb 1, 2021 |
| F2A | Sep 22, 2026 | Oct 22, 2026 | Current |
| F2B | Aug 22, 2019 | Aug 22, 2020 | Sep 1, 2020 |
| F3 | Oct 22, 2014 | Oct 22, 2015 | Nov 1, 2015 |
| F4 | Oct 22, 2011 | Oct 22, 2012 | Nov 1, 2012 |
Who Gains This Month
You gain in November if your priority date falls inside one of these windows.
- EB-2 and EB-2 NIW. A priority date from January 1 to March 31, 2025, can now be approved.
- EB-3 skilled workers. A priority date from May 15 to June 14, 2024, can now be approved.
- EB-3 other workers. A priority date from January 1 to May 31, 2022, can now be approved.
- Family F1, F2B, F3, and F4. A full extra year of priority dates is now eligible for approval.
India and China saw smaller moves. EB-1 China moves to August 1, 2023, EB-3 China moves to January 22, 2022, and EB-3 India moves to January 22, 2014. EB-2 India and China did not move.
The EB-2 Catch This Month
Every bulletin has two charts. Final Action Dates decide when your green card can be approved. Dates for Filing decide when you can submit your green card application, Form I-485, if you are inside the US.
For November, USCIS uses Dates for Filing. That chart kept EB-2 at March 15, 2026, the same date as October. So the three-month jump helps people waiting for approval, and it changes nothing for people waiting to file.
Here is what that means for you.
- Your priority date is earlier than March 15, 2026. You could already file in October, and you can still file in November. Do it now if you have not, since a later bulletin could move this date backward.
- Your priority date is March 15, 2026, or later. You cannot file your I-485 this month. Watch the December bulletin.
- You have not filed your I-140 yet. Your priority date is the day USCIS receives it. Every month you wait pushes you further from the filing cutoff, which already sits seven months behind today.
If you are outside the US, the National Visa Center uses Dates for Filing to invite you to send documents. Your interview comes once your date is earlier than the Final Action Date.
What November Means If You Were Born in Africa
If you were born in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, or any other African country, you read the ROW column. Your dates match those in the tables above. Your country of birth decides your column, not your passport.
The dates are only half the story this year. Two other questions decide whether a current date leads to a green card in November.
- Are you inside or outside the US? If you are inside the US and adjusting status, USCIS processes your case. In June 2026, a federal court struck down USCIS policies that froze green card decisions for people from travel-ban countries, and USCIS says it is complying while the government appeals.
- Is your country on the Proclamation 10998 list? Since January 1, 2026, the US has partially suspended visas for nationals of 19 countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. For these countries, the suspension covers immigrant visas, with limited exceptions, for people applying from outside the US. Another group of countries faces a full suspension. You can still apply and attend an interview, and the embassy may still refuse to issue the visa.
So a Nigerian-born EB-2 applicant with a December 2024 priority date who lives in the US can file and move toward approval this month. The same applicant applying from Lagos meets the proclamation first.
EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW vs O-1 This Month
Founders, executives, and skilled professionals usually choose between these three routes. November shows how much that choice affects your wait.
| Route | November status for ROW | Job offer needed | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1A | Current | No | Green card |
| EB-2 NIW | Final action Apr 1, 2025, filing Mar 15, 2026 | No | Green card |
| O-1 | Not in the bulletin | Needs a US employer or agent | Temporary work visa |
EB-1A has no line for ROW applicants this month. EB-2 NIW approvals are reaching people who filed about 19 months ago. The O-1 is not a green card, so it never waits on the bulletin, and it lets you live and work in the US while your green card case moves.
The O-1 is also not on the Proclamation 10998 suspension list for Nigeria and the other partially restricted countries, which makes it a practical bridge for many applicants this year.
If your record can meet the EB-1A standard of sustained national or international acclaim, filing EB-1A could skip the EB-2 wait entirely. You can also file more than one petition, so some applicants file EB-2 NIW as a backup.
Your November Checklist
Find the line that matches you and act on it this month.
- You are in the US, and your priority date is earlier than the Date for Filing. File Form I-485 in November. You can file Form I-765 for a work permit and Form I-131 for travel permission at the same time.
- You already filed your I-485, and your date is now earlier than the Final Action Date. Your case can be approved. Check your case status, answer any request for evidence quickly, and keep your address current with USCIS.
- You are outside the US, and your date is earlier than the Date for Filing. Wait for the National Visa Center to contact you, then pay fees, complete Form DS-260, and upload your documents. Do not send documents before that notice.
- You are outside the US and your country is on the Proclamation 10998 list. Check how the suspension affects you before you pay fees, book travel, or resign from a job.
- You have not filed a petition yet. File your I-140 as soon as your case is ready, since your place in line starts that day. If your record is strong, look at EB-1A first.
- You are the spouse or child of a green card holder. F2A is current on the Date for Filing chart, so if you are in the US and otherwise eligible, you can file this month, regardless of your priority date.
- Your child is close to 21. Check the Child Status Protection Act rules now. The formula uses bulletin dates, and waiting can cost your child their place.
2026 Rules That Can Stop a Current Date
A current priority date gets you to the next step. It does not guarantee a green card, and this year three things can slow you down.
- The travel proclamation. Proclamation 10998 suspends most immigrant visas for nationals of the partially restricted countries who apply from outside the US. The government reviews the list every 180 days.
- Embassy interview delays. In late August 2026, the State Department postponed immigrant visa interviews at its embassies and consulates so officers could train on public charge screening. Read your embassy’s notices before you plan around an interview date.
- Public charge review. Officers now look closely at whether you can support yourself without US public benefits. Prepare clear proof of income, assets, or a job offer.
These rules change quickly. Check the latest position before you file, pay fees, or travel.
What to Watch in December
The December bulletin will come out before the month starts. Watch these five things.
- The EB-2 Date for Filing. If it moves past March 15, 2026, more EB-2 and NIW applicants inside the US can file.
- The chart USCIS picks. USCIS can switch from Dates for Filing to Final Action Dates in any month. Check its filing charts page as soon as the bulletin is out.
- Any backward movement. If demand rises, the State Department can move a date back, called retrogression. People who were current would then wait again.
- The next Proclamation 10998 review. The government reviews the country list every 180 days, and the next review is due around mid-December 2026.
- Embassy interview schedules. Look for notices that regular immigrant visa interviews have resumed at your embassy.
November 2026 Visa Bulletin FAQs
Will the visa bulletin move faster in 2026? Only one bulletin is left in 2026, the December edition, and the State Department does not publish forecasts. Fiscal year 2027 began on October 1 with a fresh supply of green cards, and both the October and November bulletins moved forward with nothing moving backward. Speed depends on demand, so dates can slow down or retrogress later in the fiscal year. Plan around the latest bulletin and file as soon as you are eligible.
What are the latest updates on the Visa Bulletin? The November 2026 visa bulletin is the latest. EB-2 final action moves three months to April 1, 2025; EB-3 skilled workers move to June 15, 2024; and EB-3 other workers move to June 1, 2022, for most countries. F1, F2B, F3, and F4 each gain a year. USCIS lets applicants inside the US use the Dates for Filing chart this month for both employment and family cases.
Is there an update on the US visa ban on Nigeria for 2026? Nigeria remains on the partial restriction list under Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026. It suspends new B-1/B-2 visitor, F and M student, J exchange, and immigrant visas for Nigerian nationals outside the US who did not hold a valid visa on that date, with limited exceptions such as dual nationals using a non-restricted passport. Visas issued before January 1, 2026, were not revoked. Work visas such as the O-1 and H-1B are not on the suspended list. The government reviews the list every 180 days, and the next review is due around mid-December 2026. A separate pause on immigrant visas for 75 countries, including Nigeria, ended after a federal court struck it down in August 2026.
When can we expect the next visa bulletin? The December 2026 bulletin should come out before December begins. The November edition appeared in the third week of October, so watch the official Visa Bulletin page from mid-November. USCIS then announces which chart applies, usually within a week.
Get the Right Plan for Your Green Card With Veripass
The November 2026 visa bulletin tells you where the line stands this month. It does not tell you which line gives you the shortest wait, or how to build a case that gets approved once your date arrives.
Veripass helps founders, executives, and skilled professionals with exactly that.
- We match you to the right route. We review your profile against EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and O-1, and against UK Global Talent, Canada C10 and Global Talent Stream, and Australia’s National Innovation visa. If you qualify for a current category, we’ll show you.
- We build your case from start to finish. We shape your evidence and stay with you at every step. Where it helps, we write and publish articles under your name to show your expertise.
- We time your filing. We help you file early to secure your priority date, and we track each bulletin and USCIS chart choice with you.
- We plan around the 2026 rules. If the travel proclamation or interview delays affect you, we help you weigh your options before you spend money on the wrong path.
Every bulletin that passes without a filed petition is a month you cannot get back. You have worked too hard to let your green card wait on guesswork. Find out today which route can move you forward fastest.
