November 2026 Visa Bulletin: Mainland China Changes from October
The Department of State’s November 2026 Visa Bulletin brings substantial advancement in several family preference categories for applicants born in mainland China. Compared with October 2026, EB-1 advances one month under Chart A, EB-3 professionals and skilled workers advance 14 days, and EB-2 remains unchanged.
This article covers common categories for mainland China-born applicants and the ordinary use of the charts. Dates use MM/DD/YY. C means current, with no cutoff date. November dates apply during November 2026 and cannot be used early as October filing dates.
Family-Based Final Action Dates—Chart A
F1 covers unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. F2A covers spouses and unmarried children under 21 of permanent residents; F2B covers their unmarried adult sons and daughters. F3 covers married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and F4 covers siblings of U.S. citizens age 21 or older.
Category | October | November | Change |
F1 | 01/22/20 | 01/22/21 | +1 year |
F2A | 09/22/26 | 10/22/26 | +1 month |
F2B | 08/22/19 | 08/22/20 | +1 year |
F3 | 10/22/14 | 10/22/15 | +1 year |
F4 | 10/22/11 | 10/22/12 | +1 year |
All five family preference categories advance under Chart A. F1, F2B, F3 and F4 move forward by one year. This allows additional applicants to meet the visa-availability requirement for final approval, although it does not guarantee approval in November.
Family-Based Dates for Filing—Chart B
Category | October | November | Change |
F1 | 02/01/20 | 02/01/21 | +1 year |
F2A | C | C | Current; unchanged |
F2B | 09/01/19 | 09/01/20 | +1 year |
F3 | 11/01/14 | 11/01/15 | +1 year |
F4 | 11/01/11 | 11/01/12 | +1 year |
The filing dates also advance one year for F1, F2B, F3 and F4. F2A remains current. Adjustment applicants must still confirm which chart USCIS permits for the month and satisfy all other filing requirements.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens generally do not use these family preference cutoff dates. This includes spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens age 21 or older. Processing time still applies.
Employment-Based Final Action Dates—Chart A
In the tables below, EB-3 means professionals and skilled workers; EW means EB-3 other workers; and EB-5 means the unreserved category. EB-5 set-asides include rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure categories. All three set-asides remain current under both charts in both months.
Category | October | November | Change |
EB-1 | 07/01/23 | 08/01/23 | +1 month |
EB-2 / NIW | 10/01/21 | 10/01/21 | Unchanged |
EB-3 | 01/08/22 | 01/22/22 | +14 days |
EW | 10/01/19 | 10/01/19 | Unchanged |
EB-5 | 12/01/16 | 12/01/16 | Unchanged |
EB-5 set-asides | C | C | Current; unchanged |
EB-1 advances to August 1, 2023, while EB-3 professionals and skilled workers advance to January 22, 2022. EB-2 remains at October 1, 2021. NIW cases fall within EB-2; an approved NIW petition does not remove the visa-number requirement. Current EB-5 set-asides do not guarantee immediate approval.
Employment-Based Dates for Filing—Chart B
Category | October | November | Change |
EB-1 | 07/01/24 | 07/01/24 | Unchanged |
EB-2 / NIW | 01/01/23 | 01/01/23 | Unchanged |
EB-3 | 04/01/24 | 04/01/24 | Unchanged |
EW | 10/01/20 | 10/01/20 | Unchanged |
EB-5 | 03/01/21 | 03/01/21 | Unchanged |
EB-5 set-asides | C | C | Current; unchanged |
All employment filing dates shown above remain unchanged. The advancement in EB-1 and EB-3 Final Action Dates therefore does not expand the priority-date range under Chart B.
How Should Applicants Use the Charts?
Chart A governs visa availability for final approval of permanent residence or issuance of an immigrant visa. Chart B governs earlier filing or document submission under the applicable procedures. Applicants processing abroad should follow National Visa Center instructions.
The bulletin requires a priority date “earlier than the final action date listed below” (November bulletin, Chart A note). A priority date equal to the cutoff does not qualify. The same earlier-than rule applies when Chart B lists a cutoff date.
For example, an EB-1 applicant with a July 15, 2023 priority date did not fall before October’s July 1, 2023 Final Action Date. That applicant falls before November’s August 1, 2023 cutoff. Final approval still depends on completion of adjudication, visa availability and satisfaction of other requirements.
Before filing Form I-485, applicants must check USCIS’s monthly chart selection. Publication of Chart B by the Department of State does not automatically authorize its use for adjustment filings. Do not assume that November follows October’s chart selection.
Our October bulletin discussion provides background, but November eligibility must be assessed using the November official bulletin and USCIS’s chart designation for that month. Chargeability generally follows birthplace rather than citizenship or residence. Cross-chargeability, child age protection and maintenance of status require individual review. Dates can stop advancing or retrogress; this month’s movement does not establish the pace of future advancement.
Legal Disclaimer. Originally published: 10/22/2026. This article provides general information only and is not legal advice for any particular matter. Laws, policies, procedures, fees and agency practices may change; their application depends on the facts and jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney about your circumstances before acting on this information. Reading this article or contacting Blumsack & Canzano does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. This material may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.
