November 2026 Visa Bulletin: Selective Progress for Indian EB-3 Green Card Applicants

The U.S. Department of State has released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, revealing selective forward movement in priority dates for Indian nationals applying for employment-based green cards. While the bulletin brings cautious optimism, the advancement is not uniform across all preference categories, reflecting the continued strain of high demand from India-born applicants. For EB-3 applicants from India — covering skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers — any forward movement in the Final Action Date or Date for Filing is significant given the historically long backlogs. Indian EB-3 applicants often wait years or even decades due to the per-country annual cap on green card issuances. The selective nature of November's progress suggests the State Department is carefully managing visa number allocation to avoid retrogression in subsequent months. Applicants are advised to compare both the Final Action Dates and the Dates for Filing charts to determine eligibility to file adjustment of status applications with USCIS. Immigration attorneys and practitioners recommend that applicants with priority dates approaching the cutoff consult with their employers or legal counsel promptly to prepare required documentation. Delays in filing can result in missed windows if dates retrogress in December 2026 or beyond. Applicants should monitor the USCIS website for confirmation of which chart — Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing — will be accepted for adjustment of status filings in November 2026, as USCIS makes this determination monthly based on anticipated demand.