The U.S. Department of State's November 2026 Visa Bulletin brings limited progress for Indian employment-based green card applicants, with the EB-3 Final Action Date advancing by 21 days. The EB-1 and EB-2 categories remain unchanged, while several family-sponsored categories move forward.
The bulletin establishes when eligible applicants may receive immigrant visas or proceed with documentation, depending on their priority dates and applicable filing rules.
India EB-3 Final Action Date advances by 21 days
India's employment-based third preference (EB-3) Final Action Date moves from January 1, 2014, to January 22, 2014, offering modest progress for skilled workers, professionals and other eligible applicants.
The employment-based Final Action Dates for India are:
|
Category |
November 2026 cutoff |
|---|---|
|
EB-1 |
February 1, 2023 |
|
EB-2 |
November 1, 2013 |
|
EB-3 |
January 22, 2014 |
|
EB-5 Unreserved |
December 1, 2023 |
EB-1 and EB-2 remain unchanged from October. India's EB-5 rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure set-aside categories remain current.
November 2026 family-based green card dates
Family-sponsored immigration categories also show movement for Indian applicants.
The F1 Final Action Date advances to January 22, 2021, for unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. F2A, covering spouses and unmarried children under 21 of permanent residents, moves to October 22, 2026.
India's F4 category, covering siblings of adult U.S. citizens, advances to December 15, 2006, from the previous month's unchanged cutoff. Despite the movement, the category continues to face a substantial backlog.
Special per-country allocation provisions apply to F2A immigrant visa numbers.
November 2026 Dates for Filing explained
The Visa Bulletin provides separate Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing.
Final Action Dates determine when immigrant visa numbers may be issued, while Dates for Filing establish when eligible applicants can begin submitting required documentation.
For India, the November employment-based Dates for Filing include January 15, 2015, for EB-2 and EB-3, and July 1, 2024, for EB-1.
The family-sponsored F2A Dates for Filing category remains current. However, applicants seeking adjustment of status in the United States must follow the chart USCIS authorizes for November.
What Indian green card applicants should know
Applicants filing Form I-485 in the United States should verify whether USCIS permits use of the Dates for Filing chart or requires the Final Action Dates chart.
Those applying through U.S. consulates abroad should follow instructions from the State Department and National Visa Center.
A priority date must generally be earlier than the applicable cutoff for a visa number to become available. The November EB-3 advancement creates a narrower waiting period for some Indian applicants, but visa availability does not guarantee immediate green card approval.
Official sources: November 2026 U.S. Visa Bulletin | USCIS adjustment of status filing charts
