November 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Final Action Dates Advance, USCIS Honors Filing Dates

The U.S. Department of State has released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, delivering a notable development for employment-based immigration applicants. Final Action Dates for Employment-Based preference categories have moved forward, offering potential relief to thousands of EB-3 applicants who have been waiting in the backlog. For most countries, Dates for Filing (also known as 'Cutoff Dates for Filing') remain unchanged, providing stability for applicants who are preparing their adjustment of status applications. This dual-table system allows applicants whose priority dates are current under the Dates for Filing chart to submit I-485 applications even if their Final Action Date has not yet been reached. Critically, USCIS has announced it will accept the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based categories in November 2026. This is a significant operational decision, as USCIS determines month-to-month whether to honor this more flexible filing chart. Applicants with eligible priority dates should act promptly, as filing opportunities can close without notice. For EB-3 applicants from heavily backlogged countries such as India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines, any forward movement in Final Action Dates is particularly meaningful. Applicants are encouraged to verify their specific country chargeability and priority date against both charts in the official November 2026 Visa Bulletin before taking any filing steps. Immigration attorneys at Fragomen advise clients to consult with legal counsel to determine eligibility and ensure all supporting documentation is in order before submitting applications under the updated November 2026 cutoff dates.