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1. USCIS Visa Bulletin page (mentioned first time)
2. USCIS Visa Bulletin page (mentioned second time)
3. USCIS Visa Bulletin page (mentioned third time)
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(WASHINGTON, D.C.) The State Department’s October 2025 Visa Bulletin opened the new fiscal year with mostly steady movement across categories, and the follow-on November 2025 chart confirmed key trends. Most notably, the Employment-Based First Preference (EB‑1) for China remained unchanged month-over-month: the EB‑1 China Final Action Dates held at 22DEC22 in both October and November, meaning the category did not advance beyond October’s cutoff. For applicants from China in EB‑1, that signals continued stability but no forward movement heading into the early months of FY2026.
Employment-based cutoffs across other key categories also held steady between October and November. EB‑1 remained current for all chargeability areas except China and India; India stayed fixed at 15FEB22 for Final Action Dates. EB‑2 and EB‑3 categories showed no month-to-month shifts in Final Action Dates for most chargeability groups as the new annual visa supply reset took effect October 1. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the flat trend in November suggests demand continues to absorb released numbers at a pace that does not yet support broad advances early in the fiscal year.
While the Final Action Dates stayed in place for many employment categories, some family-sponsored Dates for Filing nudged forward in November. That movement matters for consular applicants preparing document packages and, if permitted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), for certain applicants in the United States 🇺🇸 seeking to file adjustment of status. As the State Department notes each month, unless USCIS announces otherwise, applicants must use the Visa Bulletin’s Final Action Dates to determine when to file. USCIS posts its monthly filing chart guidance at the agency’s page for the Visa Bulletin, which applicants should check before taking any filing steps: USCIS Visa Bulletin page.
Employment-Based Highlights
Key employment-based movements (Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing) were largely unchanged between October and November 2025.
EB‑1
- Final Action Dates:
- All chargeability areas except those listed: Current (C) in both months.
- China: 22DEC22 (no advancement).
- India: 15FEB22 (unchanged).
- Dates for Filing:
- China: 15MAY23
- India: 15APR23
- Other areas: Current
EB‑2
- Final Action Dates:
- All chargeability except those listed: 01DEC23 (unchanged).
- China: 01APR21
- India: 01APR13
- Dates for Filing:
- China: 15JUL24
- India: 01DEC21
- Other areas: Current
EB‑3 (Professionals / Skilled Workers)
- Final Action Dates:
- All chargeability except those listed: 01APR23
- China: 01MAR21
- India: 22AUG13
- Dates for Filing:
- All chargeability: 15JUL24
- China: 01JUL23
- India: 01JAN22
- Philippines: 15AUG14
EB‑3 Other Workers
- Final Action Dates:
- All chargeability except those listed: 15JUL21
- China: 01DEC17
- India: 22AUG13
- Dates for Filing: unchanged and aligned with above EB‑3 guidance
EB‑4 (Certain Special Immigrants)
- Final Action Dates: 01JUL20 across the board (both months).
- Certain Religious Workers (SR): Listed as Unavailable (U) in October and remained Unavailable in November due to lapse after September 30, 2025.
EB‑5
- Unreserved:
- China: 08DEC15
- India: 01FEB21
- All others: Current
- Set‑Asides (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure): Current for all chargeability areas in both months.
Practical notes for employment-based applicants
- The flat Final Action Dates early in FY2026 mean careful planning is essential.
- If your priority date is earlier than the posted Final Action Date, you can proceed with immigrant visa issuance or adjustment approval.
- If relying on Dates for Filing, confirm month-to-month whether USCIS permits filing based on that chart via the USCIS Visa Bulletin page.
- Verifying the allowed chart monthly helps avoid unnecessary expenses (medical exams, translations) before filing is allowed.
Family and Diversity Visa Notes
Family-sponsored Final Action Dates largely held steady from October to November, though there were notable moves on the Dates for Filing chart that benefit document preparation.
F2A policy nuance
- For both October and November:
- F2A numbers exempt from the per-country limit were authorized for cases with priority dates earlier than 01FEB23.
- F2A numbers subject to per-country limit were authorized for cases (except Mexico) with priority dates from 01FEB23 and earlier than 01FEB24.
- Mexico: All F2A numbers were exempt from the per-country limit.
Always check monthly USCIS guidance to see whether the Dates for Filing chart applies for adjustment-of-status applicants.
Family Dates for Filing (movement in November)
- F1 (Unmarried sons & daughters of U.S. citizens): 01SEP17 (All Chargeability, China, India) — unchanged; Mexico and Philippines unchanged per their dates.
- F2A (Spouses & children of permanent residents): moved from 22SEP25 (October) to 22OCT25 (November) — one-month advance.
- F2B (Unmarried sons & daughters, 21+ of permanent residents): moved from 22SEP25 to 22OCT25 — one-month advance.
- F3 (Married sons & daughters of U.S. citizens): advanced from 15DEC08 to 15MAY09.
- F4 (Brothers & sisters of adult U.S. citizens): advanced from 15JUN01 to 01JUL01.
These Dates for Filing shifts let consular-processing families gather civil documents, police certificates, and financial evidence sooner. For applicants inside the U.S., confirm whether USCIS adopts the Dates for Filing chart before submitting adjustment packages—filing too early can cause rejection and lost time, while filing as soon as allowed can protect dependent children from aging out.
Diversity Visa (DV‑2026) regional rank cutoffs (stable Oct→Nov)
- Africa: 17,500 (Algeria 14,500; Egypt 16,000)
- Asia: 10,000 (Nepal 6,000)
- Europe: 7,750
- North America (Bahamas): 20
- Oceania: 1,100
- South America & Caribbean: 1,850
The State Department warned DV numbers may be exhausted before the end of FY2026. Selectees must complete all steps before September 30, 2026. Those eligible to adjust status in the United States should monitor USCIS guidance and prepare documents promptly—missing the fiscal-year deadline terminates eligibility, even for already-selected applicants.
Religious workers (SR category)
- SR remained Unavailable in both months following program sunset September 30, 2025.
- If Congress reauthorizes SR, the category would become available and align with EB‑4 dates per country.
- Until reauthorization, consular issuance and final action on SR adjustments are paused.
Statutory Levels and Rules Reaffirmed
The Visa Bulletin reaffirmed FY2026 statutory levels:
– Family‑sponsored preference immigrants: 226,000 worldwide
– Employment‑based preference immigrants: floor of 140,000
– Per‑country limit: generally 7% of combined totals
The bulletin also reiterated long-standing rules:
– Visas are issued by priority date order.
– Spouses and minor children qualify as derivatives under INA section 203(d), preserving family unity when the principal applicant becomes current.
Practical Steps and Warnings for Applicants & Sponsors
- Track your category’s Final Action Dates each month. If your priority date is earlier than the posted cutoff, your case is ready for final action.
- If USCIS authorizes use of the Dates for Filing chart, submit your adjustment package as soon as your priority date reaches the listed date. Confirm the allowed chart monthly at the USCIS Visa Bulletin page.
- National Visa Center (NVC) applicants: use Dates for Filing to assemble documents early when permitted, but do not submit police certificates or medicals before receiving NVC or post-specific instructions.
- EB‑5 investors in unreserved China and India should plan around ongoing Final Action Date controls (08DEC15 for China; 01FEB21 for India) while noting that rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure set-asides remain Current.
- Religious workers and sponsoring organizations should plan for continued SR unavailability unless Congress reauthorizes the program.
Important: Filing too early can lead to rejected packages and lost fees. Conversely, filing promptly when allowed can protect dependent children from aging-out and secure timely processing.
Bottom Line
- EB‑1 China Final Action Dates remained frozen at 22DEC22 in both October and November 2025.
- EB‑1 India stayed at 15FEB22.
- Most EB‑2 and EB‑3 cutoffs were unchanged.
- Family Dates for Filing saw modest advances — notably F2A and F2B (one‑month improvements).
- DV regional cutoffs held steady as FY2026 began.
Early fiscal-year stability is common; expect the State Department to adjust cutoffs as real-time demand becomes clearer in the coming quarters.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
The October and November 2025 Visa Bulletin reflected early fiscal-year stability with limited movement across employment categories. EB‑1 China remained at a Final Action Date of 22DEC22, and EB‑1 India stayed at 15FEB22. EB‑2 and EB‑3 categories largely held steady after the annual visa supply reset on October 1. Family Dates for Filing experienced modest advances in November — notably F2A and F2B moved one month — enabling earlier document collection and possible USCIS filing if the agency adopts that chart. Diversity Visa regional cutoffs remained stable, but the State Department warned numbers may be exhausted before FY2026 ends. Applicants should consult the USCIS Visa Bulletin page each month to confirm which chart applies and plan accordingly to avoid premature filings and protect dependent children from aging out.
