The latest bulletin also brings notable movement in family-sponsored immigration categories, with several cutoff dates advancing by a full year. While these changes expand eligibility for certain applicants, the pace of progress varies considerably by visa category and country of birth.
Employment-Based Green Cards See Uneven Progress Across Countries
According to Newsweek, the employment-based second-preference category, known as EB-2, advances three months to April 1, 2025, for most countries, including Mexico and the Philippines. The dates remain unchanged for India at November 1, 2013, and China at October 1, 2021.
The EB-3 category also records movement. For most countries and Mexico, the final action date advances one month to June 15, 2024. India’s cutoff moves from January 1, 2014, to January 22, 2014, while the Philippines remains at August 15, 2023.
A larger change affects EB-3 Other Workers, a category covering certain positions requiring less than two years of training or experience. The cutoff for most countries and Mexico advances five months, reaching June 1, 2022. India’s date moves forward by 21 days to January 22, 2014.
According to immigration law firm Wolfsdorf Rosenthal, China also records limited advances in two categories. Its EB-1 cutoff moves one month to August 1, 2023, while the EB-3 skilled workers and professionals date advances 14 days to January 22, 2022.
Other employment categories remain largely unchanged. EB-4 retains its December 15, 2022, cutoff across listed countries, while EB-5 unreserved investor visas remain current for most countries. China and India retain their existing EB-5 restrictions.
Douglas S. Pierce, a former USCIS supervisor, told Newsweek that the limited movement particularly affects Indian and Chinese workers holding H-1B visas. He said workers born in those countries were being “profoundly impacted by the lack of movement on these numbers.”
Family-Sponsored Categories Advance As Filing Rules Remain Important
Family-sponsored immigration shows broader movement in November, particularly for applicants from countries outside the most heavily restricted categories.
According to Wolfsdorf Rosenthal, final action dates advance by one year for F1 unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens, F2B unmarried adult children of permanent residents, and F3 married children of U.S. citizens across most countries, China and India. The F4 category, covering siblings of adult U.S. citizens, also advances one year for most countries and China. Its cutoff reaches October 22, 2012.
Meanwhile, F2A visas for spouses and children of permanent residents advance one month across all chargeability areas. The final action date reaches October 22, 2026, for most countries, while Mexico retains an earlier cutoff of April 22, 2026.
Applicants must distinguish between final action dates and dates for filing. USCIS is allowing adjustment-of-status applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart for November. An applicant’s priority date must precede the applicable cutoff to qualify. Even when a date becomes eligible, approval remains subject to visa availability and other requirements.
The State Department also warns that cutoff dates can move backward when demand exceeds available visa numbers, making subsequent monthly bulletins relevant for applicants still waiting.
