Visa bulletin predictions for November 2026

Nobody outside the State Department knows the November 2026 dates before the bulletin comes out. What can be known: what the State Department itself said in the October 2026 bulletin, and how fast each line has really moved.

Both are below. For your own priority date, open your category and country and use the checker.

Source: Visa Bulletin for October 2026 (U.S. Department of State). Read from the official PDF of this bulletin. · Checked October 14, 2026. Always confirm with the official bulletin and USCIS. Independent site. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, USCIS or any government agency.

What the State Department says

Official notes published with the bulletin, quoted as written. They describe what the State Department expects, not a guarantee.

Availability of Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based Visas for FY 2027

With the availability of FY 2027 immigrant visa numbers, dates for filing and final action dates have advanced across various immigrant visa categories. However, some employment-based visa categories for "Rest of World" countries have retrogressed, and these retrogressions are necessary to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits. This situation is being continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

Extension of the Employment Fourth Religious Workers (SR) Category

H.R. 6500, signed on September 2, 2026, extends the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category through December 11, 2026. The SR category is subject to the same dates for filing and final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.

How fast each line moved

Final action dates. “12 months”: change from the October 2025 bulletin to October 2026. “3-year pace”: average forward movement over the last 36 bulletins. Past movement is not a forecast: dates can stall or go back.

Movement by category and country
Category	October 2026 · 12 months · 3-year pace
F1 (all countries)	January 22, 2020 Advanced 3 years, 2 monthsAbout 20 months a year
F1 Mexico	September 8, 2008 Advanced 2 years, 10 monthsAbout 30 months a year
F1 Philippines	November 1, 2013 Advanced 9 monthsAbout 7 months a year
F2A (all countries)	September 22, 2026 Advanced 2 years, 8 monthsAbout 30 months a year
F2A Mexico	March 22, 2026 Advanced 3 years, 2 monthsAbout 29 months a year
F2B (all countries)	August 22, 2019 Advanced 2 years, 9 monthsAbout 16 months a year
F2B Mexico	May 15, 2010 Advanced 2 years, 5 monthsAbout 33 months a year
F2B Philippines	October 1, 2013 Advanced 1 yearAbout 8 months a year
F3 (all countries)	October 22, 2014 Advanced 3 years, 1 monthAbout 23 months a year
F3 Mexico	July 1, 2001 Advanced 3 monthsAbout 13 months a year
F3 Philippines	July 22, 2006 Advanced 1 year, 10 monthsAbout 16 months a year
F4 (all countries)	October 22, 2011 Advanced 3 years, 9 monthsAbout 18 months a year
F4 Mexico	April 22, 2001 Advanced 14 daysAbout 3 months a year
F4 Philippines	May 15, 2008 Advanced 2 years, 2 monthsAbout 23 months a year
F4 India	December 15, 2006 Advanced 1 monthAbout 5 months a year
EB-1 (all countries)	Current No change—
EB-1 India	February 1, 2023 Advanced 1 yearAbout 24 months a year
EB-1 China (mainland-born)	July 1, 2023 Advanced 6 monthsAbout 5 months a year
EB-2 (all countries)	January 1, 2025 Advanced 1 year, 1 monthAbout 10 months a year
EB-2 India	November 1, 2013 Advanced 7 monthsAbout 7 months a year
EB-2 China (mainland-born)	October 1, 2021 Advanced 6 monthsAbout 8 months a year
EB-3 (all countries)	May 15, 2024 Advanced 1 year, 1 monthAbout 10 months a year
EB-3 Philippines	August 15, 2023 Advanced 4 monthsAbout 7 months a year
EB-3 India	January 1, 2014 Advanced 4 monthsAbout 7 months a year
EB-3 China (mainland-born)	January 8, 2022 Advanced 10 monthsAbout 8 months a year
EB-3 Other Workers (all countries)	January 1, 2022 Advanced 6 monthsAbout 6 months a year
EB-3 Other Workers Philippines	January 1, 2022 Advanced 6 monthsAbout 7 months a year
EB-3 Other Workers India	January 1, 2014 Advanced 4 monthsAbout 7 months a year
EB-3 Other Workers China (mainland-born)	October 1, 2019 Advanced 1 year, 10 monthsAbout 15 months a year
EB-4 (all countries)	December 15, 2022 Advanced 2 years, 5 monthsAbout 16 months a year
EB-5 (all countries)	Current No change—
EB-5 India	December 1, 2023 Advanced 2 years, 10 monthsAbout 20 months a year
EB-5 China (mainland-born)	December 1, 2016 Advanced 1 yearAbout 5 months a year

Questions

Why don't you publish exact predictions?: Because the dates depend on demand data only the State Department and USCIS see. A made-up date can lead someone to plan around it. We show what the State Department says and what the bulletins show, and label any estimate as arithmetic.
When will the November 2026 bulletin come out?: Usually around the middle of the previous month, sometimes later. This site updates as soon as it is published.
Why do dates sometimes move back?: When demand is higher than the visas left for the year, the State Department moves the cutoff back (retrogression) so it does not go over the annual or per-country limit. It often happens near the end of the fiscal year, in August and September.