November 2025 Visa Bulletin: Global Cutoff Date Comparison by Country

The U.S. Department of State’s November 2025 Visa Bulletin places India at the center of the longest immigrant visa queues worldwide, underscoring a sharp divide between high-demand countries and the Rest of World. The bulletin sets the month’s two key cutoff charts—Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing—which tell applicants when a green card number is available and when they may submit paperwork. This month’s picture is clear: India and China remain deeply backlogged across several family and employment categories, while Mexico and the Philippines continue to face very old dates in certain family lines. Most other countries see more favorable movement, often with Current status in employment-based cases.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the November update keeps pressure on Indian professionals waiting in EB-2 and EB-3 and Indian families long separated in the F3 and F4 lines, even as many categories for the Rest of World hold as Current or only lightly delayed.

Family-based cutoffs — where dates stand

The bulletin’s core family-based cutoffs show wide gaps across countries and categories. These are presented as Final Action Dates (or near-identical family cutoffs commonly used for both charts); applicants should still confirm the exact chart for their case each month in the official bulletin.

• F1 (Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens)
  • India, China, Rest of World: 01SEP2015
  • Mexico: 01APR2005
  • Philippines: 01MAR2012
• F2A (Spouses and minor children of permanent residents)
  • Current (C) across all countries — immediate movement for qualified cases.
• F2B (Unmarried adult children of permanent residents)
  • India, China, Rest of World: 01OCT2016
  • Philippines: 01OCT2013
  • Mexico: 01JAN2005
• F3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens)
  • India, China: 01FEB2010
  • Philippines: 08JUN2002
  • Mexico: 15JUN2001
• F4 (Siblings of U.S. citizens)
  • India, China: 22JUN2006
  • Philippines: 22APR2004
  • Mexico: 15AUG2000

Confirm the exact chart and month-by-month differences on the official Visa Bulletin. Small differences between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing can matter to individual cases.

Employment-based cutoffs — the split between countries

Employment categories show a clear divide driven by per-country caps and demand.

• EB-1 (Priority workers)
  • Rest of World, Mexico, Philippines: Current
  • India: 15APR2023 (Dates for Filing shown)
  • China: 15MAY2023 (Dates for Filing shown)
• EB-2 (Advanced degree / exceptional ability)
  • India: 01DEC2013 (filing date)
  • China: 01DEC2021
  • Rest of World, Mexico, Philippines: 15JUL2024
• EB-3 (Skilled & professional workers)
  • India: 15AUG2014
  • China: 01JAN2022
  • Rest of World, Mexico, Philippines: 01JUL2023
• EB-3 Other Workers
  • India: 15AUG2014
  • China: 01OCT2018
  • Rest of World, Mexico, Philippines: 01DEC2021
• EB-4 (Special immigrants)
  • Filing date shown: 15FEB2021 (but see Religious Worker note below)
• EB-5
  • Unreserved: Current for most countries, but India: 01APR2022 (filing date), China: 01JUL2016
  • EB-5 Set-Asides (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure): Current for all countries

For November, the State Department is using the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based categories, allowing many to submit paperwork even if Final Action Dates are not yet current.

EB-4 Certain Religious Workers — legislative caveat

The EB-4 Certain Religious Workers program expired on September 30, 2025. Although EB-4 filing dates appear as 15FEB2021, that religious worker subset cannot move forward unless Congress renews the program. Families and organizations planning around EB-4 should monitor legislation closely.

What “Final Action Dates” vs “Dates for Filing” mean

• Final Action Date: The government’s queue cutoff used to issue a green card number. Your priority date must be earlier than this date for a case to be approved.
• Dates for Filing: Allows you to submit paperwork earlier (e.g., Form I-485) before a green card number is ready, which can enable work and travel benefits in the U.S. while waiting.
• When a category is Current, there is no queue — qualified petition-holders can move forward immediately.

Why the backlog exists

• Annual visa limits and the per-country cap drive the country-specific splits.
• India and China generate heavy demand in employment categories — especially EB-2 and EB-3 — causing long queues.
• Mexico and the Philippines produce very high demand in family categories (F3 and F4).
• Rest of World countries collectively use fewer numbers in these lines, so they often enjoy Current status or modest delays.

Retrogression risk — an important warning

The bulletin carries a key warning: categories can retrogress (move backward) if too many cases reach the front of the line at once. This often happens:

• During heavy filing months when Dates for Filing opens a window for many applicants to submit I-485s.
• Near the end of the fiscal year when annual visa numbers run low.

People from India and China are at higher risk of retrogression in employment categories; Rest of World applicants are less often affected but should remain vigilant.

Practical steps for applicants this month

Applicants deciding whether to move forward should follow these steps:

1. Check your category, country, and priority date against the November 2025 Visa Bulletin.
   • Use the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based cases this month, and verify which chart USCIS is using for family cases.
2. Watch for retrogression. If your date is barely current, consider filing promptly to lock in your place.
3. Keep documents ready:
   • For Adjustment of Status: civil records, medical exam, proof of current status, etc.
   • For consular processing: have DS-260, police certificates, passports, and translations ready.
4. Protect your priority date. If changing jobs, consult counsel about porting the date under Form I-140 rules.
5. Consider category strategy. Examples:
   • EB-1 may offer faster paths for qualified researchers, executives, or those with extraordinary ability.
   • EB-5 Set-Asides are open but require project due diligence and appropriate project selection.

Form guidance and links (for filing inside/outside the U.S.)

Applicants filing inside the United States should link their plans to the correct forms:

• Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status): file when your category is open under the correct chart and you meet all rules. See https://www.uscis.gov/i-485.
• Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker): filed by employers or self-petitioners in some paths like EB-1. See https://www.uscis.gov/i-140.
• Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative): the first step for most family cases. See https://www.uscis.gov/i-130.
• Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Electronic Application): for consular processing outside the U.S. See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-choose-your-path/step-5-collect-financial-evidence-and-other-documents/submit-forms-and-documents-to-the-nvc/submit-visa-application-form-ds-260.html.

For the full official month-by-month numbers and instructions, review the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html

Real-world impacts and planning examples

• A skilled worker from India in EB-2 with a 2015 priority date cannot file this month because India’s EB-2 filing cutoff is 01DEC2013. Options to consider:
  • Attempt an EB-1 upgrade (if qualified).
  • Move jobs carefully to preserve the priority date.
  • Assess EB-3 if appropriate and feasible.
• A Filipino parent petitioning a married child (F3) faces 08JUN2002 — affecting family reunification, grandchildren’s schooling, and housing plans.
• A Mexican sibling case filed in 2007 remains behind 15AUG2000, implying many more years of waiting.
• A researcher from Rest of World in EB-1 can often move forward immediately because EB-1 is Current.

These choices shape careers and family life — when families reunite, whether children grow up with both parents present, and how long someone stays in temporary nonimmigrant status.

Nonimmigrant status considerations while waiting

• H-1B extensions can continue for years based on pending/approved immigrant cases, but monitor max-out rules, job changes, and layoffs.
• Student/training visa holders often have tighter rules and should plan backup options if an immigrant case stalls.
• Advance planning before a layoff is critical to preserve status and options.

NVC and consular processing tips

• People abroad must follow National Visa Center steps closely once a priority date nears the Dates for Filing or Final Action Date.
• Keep police certificates, passports, and civil documents current to avoid delays if the category becomes documentarily ready.
• If retrogression occurs after filing, cases may pause until dates move forward again.

EB-5 investors — Unreserved vs Set-Asides

• Set-Asides (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure): Current for all countries — potential for faster movement if project and location qualify.
• Unreserved: backlogged for India and China — longer waits.
• Investors should perform careful due diligence on project viability, job creation, and return of capital when timing is uncertain.

Record-keeping and attention to detail

Small errors can cause major delays. Applicants should:

• Track USCIS online accounts, the CEAC portal, and any employer portals used for Form I-140 updates.
• Respond promptly to Requests for Evidence and keep addresses current.
• Store records of filings, receipts, and all supporting documents.

With Final Action Dates tight and Dates for Filing windows opening selectively, attention to detail is one place applicants can control the timeline.

Summary — what the November 2025 bulletin signals

• India remains the country with the longest queues overall, especially in EB-2, EB-3, F3, and F4.
• China shows significant delays in EB-2, EB-3, and EB-5 Unreserved, though its backlogs vary by category.
• Mexico and the Philippines show the oldest family cutoffs in F3 and F4.
• Rest of World generally fares better, particularly in employment categories where many categories remain Current.
• Use Final Action Dates for approvals and Dates for Filing for earlier submissions; confirm each month’s official instructions.

For the official month-by-month numbers and instructions, consult the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html. VisaVerge.com also notes continued slow movement for India and China in EB-2 and EB-3 even as EB-1 and EB-5 Set-Asides remain favorable for many non-backlogged countries.

Key takeaway: confirm each month’s chart, file clean applications, and prepare for movement that can advance—or retrogress—without much notice.