The November 2026 Visa Bulletin brings modest good news for employers sponsoring green cards. Final Action Dates moved forward in most employment-based categories for applicants from most countries, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will again accept adjustment of status applications under the earlier Dates for Filing chart.
What Moved
Final Action Dates show when a green card can actually be approved. These are the main employment-based changes in November:
| Category | November Final Action Date | Change from October |
|---|---|---|
| EB-2, most countries | April 1, 2025 | Up 3 months |
| EB-3, most countries | June 15, 2024 | Up 1 month |
| EB-3 Other Workers, most countries | June 1, 2022 | Up 5 months |
| EB-3 India | January 22, 2014 | Up 3 weeks |
| EB-2 India | November 1, 2013 | No change |
| EB-2 China | October 1, 2021 | No change |
EB-1 stays current for all countries except China and India. No category moved backward this month, which follows October’s retrogression in EB-2 and EB-3 for most countries.
The Filing Window Stays Open
For November, USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications (Form I-485) when the employee’s priority date is earlier than the Dates for Filing chart. That chart did not change this month, except for a one-month advance in EB-3 Other Workers for most countries, to July 1, 2022. Key filing cutoffs include March 15, 2026 for EB-2 in most countries, August 1, 2024 for EB-3 in most countries, January 15, 2015 for EB-2 India, and January 1, 2023 for EB-2 China.
Why It Matters for Employers
Filing the I-485 lets an employee apply for a work permit and a travel document while the green card is pending. Once the application has been pending for 180 days, the employee may also be able to move to a same or similar job without restarting the process.
Work permits now need closer attention. Under a final rule published October 14, 2026, renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025 no longer receive an automatic extension in most categories, so a late renewal can mean a gap in work authorization.
What Employers Should Do Now
- Check priority dates. Compare every sponsored employee’s priority date with the November Dates for Filing chart.
- File eligible applications this month. USCIS decides each month which chart to accept, so the window can close with little notice.
- Include work permit and travel document requests. File them with the I-485 and calendar each expiration date.
- Renew work permits early. Most employees can file up to 180 days before the current card expires.
- Prepare cases close to the cutoff. Gather birth certificates, medical exams and employment letters now for employees whose dates are near the line.
What Comes Next
The December Visa Bulletin usually comes out in mid-November. USCIS will then announce which chart it will accept for December filings.
Klug Law Firm can review your sponsored employees’ priority dates and file eligible applications before the window changes. Call (212) 495-9245 or use our contact form.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.