November 2026 Visa Bulletin: Indian EB-2 Applicants See Zero Priority Date Progress

The November 2026 Visa Bulletin has delivered disappointing news for Indian nationals in the EB-2 employment-based preference category, with priority dates showing no forward movement compared to the prior month. This stagnation reflects the persistent and severe oversubscription of employment-based green card numbers for India-born applicants, a trend that has defined the immigration landscape for years. For EB-3 applicants from India, the lack of EB-2 progress carries indirect but significant implications. When EB-2 dates remain frozen, applicants who had previously "downgraded" from EB-2 to EB-3 to take advantage of faster EB-3 movement may find their strategy offering little relief, as both categories face extreme demand relative to the annual country caps. The November bulletin stagnation is consistent with the broader structural challenge: India accounts for a disproportionate share of employment-based green card demand, yet the per-country cap limits India to the same 7% of annual EB visas as every other country. This imbalance creates backlogs measured in decades for Indian-born professionals in both EB-2 and EB-3 categories. Applicants are advised to monitor the Department of State's monthly visa bulletin releases closely and consult with their immigration attorneys about whether the "Dates for Filing" or "Final Action Dates" chart applies to their situation, as USCIS guidance on which chart to use changes monthly.