Four family-sponsored green card categories advance a full year for most countries in the November 2026 bulletin. F1, F2B and F3 gain a year for applicants from most countries, China and India, F4 gains a year for most countries and China, and F2A moves one month for every country.
It is the largest family movement in the bulletin and it follows October, when most family dates held. Mexico and the Philippines saw much smaller changes.
Family final action dates: what moved
| Category and area | October | November | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1, most countries, China, India | Jan 22, 2020 | Jan 22, 2021 | Up 1 year |
| F1 Mexico | Sep 8, 2008 | Sep 22, 2008 | Up 14 days |
| F2A, most countries, China, India, Philippines | Sep 22, 2026 | Oct 22, 2026 | Up 1 month |
| F2A Mexico | Mar 22, 2026 | Apr 22, 2026 | Up 1 month |
| F2B, most countries, China, India | Aug 22, 2019 | Aug 22, 2020 | Up 1 year |
| F3, most countries, China, India | Oct 22, 2014 | Oct 22, 2015 | Up 1 year |
| F3 Mexico | Jul 1, 2001 | Jul 15, 2001 | Up 14 days |
| F4, most countries and China | Oct 22, 2011 | Oct 22, 2012 | Up 1 year |
Held in November: F1 Philippines at November 1, 2013, F2B Mexico at May 15, 2010 and Philippines at October 1, 2013, F3 Philippines at July 22, 2006, and F4 for India, Mexico and the Philippines at December 15, 2006, April 22, 2001 and May 15, 2008.
How F2A works this month
F2A numbers exempt from the Per-country limitThe cap, set at 7 percent of the combined family and employment totals, on how many preference visas may go to natives of any single country in a fiscal year.See it in the glossary go to applicants from all countries with Priority dateThe date a petition was filed, or a labor certification was submitted, used to determine an applicant's place in line for a visa category with limited annual numbers.See it in the glossary earlier than April 22, 2026. Numbers subject to the limit go to applicants from every country except Mexico with priority dates from April 22, 2026 up to October 22, 2026, the bulletin says. All F2A numbers for Mexico are exempt. F2A versus F2B explains the two categories.
Dates for Filing
| Category and area | October | November | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1, most countries, China, India | Feb 1, 2020 | Feb 1, 2021 | Up 1 year |
| F2B, most countries, China, India | Sep 1, 2019 | Sep 1, 2020 | Up 1 year |
| F3, most countries, China, India | Nov 1, 2014 | Nov 1, 2015 | Up 1 year |
| F4, most countries and China | Nov 1, 2011 | Nov 1, 2012 | Up 1 year |
F2A stays current on the filing chart for every country. The filing dates for Mexico and the Philippines, and for F4 India, did not change.
What each chart does
An Immigrant visaA visa issued at a consulate to a person intending to live permanently in the United States. On admission the holder becomes a permanent resident.See it in the glossary applicant abroad submits documents to the National Visa Center (NVC)The State Department office that collects fees and documents from approved petitioners before a case is scheduled at a consulate.See it in the glossary once a priority date is earlier than the filing date, as the bulletin explains. A visa number is authorized only when it is earlier than the final action date. For what happens after a petition is approved, see what happens at the National Visa Center and the guide to the family preference categories.
October’s version of this report is here.