November 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5 Green Card Updates
The November 2026 Visa Bulletin lists priority dates for EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5 Green Card applicants, including key dates for India.
November 2026 Visa Bulletin: What Changed in EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5?
The US Department of State has released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, outlining the latest Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for family-sponsored and employment-based immigration categories. For employment-based applicants, the bulletin lists different priority dates across EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5, with Indian applicants continuing to face significant backlogs in several categories.
What Are the November 2026 EB-1 Priority Dates?
For Indian applicants pursuing an EB-1 Green Card, the November bulletin lists the following dates:
- Final Action Date: February 1, 2023
- Date for Filing: July 1, 2024
The Final Action Date determines when an immigrant visa can be issued or an adjustment of status can be approved, subject to eligibility and visa availability. The Date for Filing indicates when applicants may begin submitting documentation, where the applicable filing chart permits it.
These dates matter to applicants pursuing the EB-1A extraordinary ability category, as well as other EB-1 applicants. EB-1A processing time is separate from priority-date availability: an approved petition does not automatically mean an immigrant visa or Green Card is immediately available.
Will EB-2 and EB-3 India Move Forward?
The November 2026 bulletin lists the following employment-based dates for India:
Category | Final Action Date | Date for Filing |
EB-1 | February 1, 2023 | July 1, 2024 |
EB-2 | November 1, 2013 | January 15, 2015 |
EB-3 | January 22, 2014 | January 15, 2015 |
EB-3 Other Workers | January 22, 2014 | January 15, 2015 |
These dates highlight the continued wait for many Indian professionals seeking US permanent residency through employer-sponsored pathways. Applicants should compare their priority dates with the relevant chart rather than assuming that petition approval means they can proceed immediately.
The bulletin provides the dates applicable for November; it does not guarantee that any category will advance in the following month.
What Are the November 2026 EB-5 Priority Dates?
The EB-5 category has different dates depending on whether an investment falls under the unreserved category or a reserved category.
For EB-5 unreserved applicants from India, the bulletin lists:
- Final Action Date: December 1, 2023
- Date for Filing: May 1, 2024
By contrast, the EB-5 rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure set-aside categories are listed as current for all chargeability areas in both charts. A current listing means visa numbers are available to all qualified applicants in that category, subject to other eligibility requirements.
What Should Green Card Applicants Know?
The November Visa Bulletin provides a snapshot of visa availability, not a guaranteed Green Card processing time. Applicants should check which chart applies to their case and confirm whether USCIS permits adjustment-of-status applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart for November.
Those pursuing EB-1A should also distinguish between the time USCIS takes to adjudicate an I-140 petition and the wait for an immigrant visa number. Applicants in backlogged categories may need to wait for their priority dates to become current before completing the final stage of the process.
The next Visa Bulletin will show whether priority dates advance, remain unchanged or retrogress. Until then, applicants should rely on the published dates and official updates rather than assume that movement is guaranteed.
For official details, consult the US Department of State's November 2026 Visa Bulletin and USCIS's Visa Bulletin information page.
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