November 2026 Visa Bulletin: What It Means for New York Green Card Applicants

Oct 23, 2026 · @Kritagya kumar

The November 2026 Visa Bulletin is here, and New York families have the most to gain

The U.S. Department of State released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin on October 22, 2026. Family-based categories saw the biggest jumps, with F1 and F4 moving forward a full year for most countries. EB-2 and EB-3 also advanced for Rest of World (ROW) applicants.

For New York, this matters more than almost anywhere else. According to the city's 2026 Newest New Yorkers report, about 3.1 million immigrants live in the five boroughs, making up more than a third of the population and 43% of the city's workforce. Many of them, along with their relatives abroad, are waiting on exactly these dates.

Whether you live in Flushing, Jackson Heights, Washington Heights, East Flatbush or across the river in Jersey City, here is what changed this month and what to do next.

Employment-based: EB-2 ROW jumps three months

The biggest employment-based move is EB-2 for ROW, Mexico and the Philippines, which advances three months to April 1, 2025. EB-4 and EB-5 did not move for any country.

Final Action Dates, October vs. November 2026

Dates for Filing: nearly unchanged. Only EB-3 Other Workers for ROW and Mexico moves one month, from June 1, 2022 to July 1, 2022.

What this means for New York employers and workers:

• Hospitals and healthcare employers across Manhattan, the Bronx and Long Island sponsor many EB-2 and EB-3 workers. ROW nurses and clinicians with 2024 or early-2025 priority dates should check their status now. Filipino EB-3 applicants did not move this month.

• Finance, tech and professional services firms in Manhattan and Jersey City with EB-2 ROW employees whose priority dates fall between January and March 2025 may now see final approvals.

• Restaurants, hospitality and building services employers using EB-3 Other Workers get a rare five-month jump for ROW and Mexico.

• Indian professionals in Edison, Iselin and Queens see only small EB-3 gains and no EB-2 movement, so planning around an H-1B extension or an EB-1A or EB-2 NIW route remains important.

Family-based: a full year forward for most New York communities

F1 and F4 both jump a full year for ROW and China, and F1 also jumps a year for India. F2A final action dates move one month for every country.

What this means for New York's largest immigrant communities

The city's 2026 report names China and the Dominican Republic as the two largest foreign-born groups, followed by Jamaica and Mexico, with Bangladesh, Ecuador, Guyana, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Colombia and Ukraine also among the leading countries of origin.

If you sponsored a brother, sister or adult child years ago, this is the month to pull out that I-130 approval notice and check the date.

Which chart to use, and where New York cases are handled

For November 2026, USCIS has confirmed that all family-based and employment-based applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart to decide whether they can submit Form I-485.

• Dates for Filing: when you can file your adjustment of status package, along with a work permit (EAD) and travel document (Advance Parole) request.

• Final Action Dates: when your green card can actually be approved.

If your priority date is earlier than the date listed for your category and country on the Dates for Filing chart, you can file this month.

Where your case goes after filing. USCIS's New York City District covers the five boroughs, Long Island and the Hudson Valley. New Jersey residents fall under the Newark District, and upstate New York under the Buffalo Field Office. Your interview and biometrics appointments will be at the office named on your notice, so always go by the address printed there.

Already in New York? Adjustment of status. If you are in the U.S. in valid status, you will usually file Form I-485 with USCIS.

Relative still abroad? Consular processing. Family members outside the U.S. go through the National Visa Center and a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country, such as Santo Domingo, Guangzhou, Kingston, Dhaka or Mumbai.

Your November checklist

1. Find your priority date on your I-130 or I-140 approval notice (Form I-797).

2. Check your country of chargeability. It is usually your country of birth, not your passport or where you live now.

3. Compare against the Dates for Filing chart for your category.

4. Book your medical exam early. Form I-693 must be completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, and appointments in busy NYC neighborhoods can fill up fast.

5. Gather civil documents. Birth certificates, marriage certificates and police records from the Dominican Republic, China, Bangladesh, Jamaica and other countries often need certified translations and can take weeks to obtain.

6. Protect your dependents. Children close to turning 21 may be affected by age-out rules, so check their timeline now.

7. Employers: audit your PERM and I-140 pipeline and line up employment verification letters for workers who can now file.

8. Watch for December. The next bulletin usually arrives mid-month, and dates can move forward, stall or go backward.

Frequently asked questions

When was the November 2026 Visa Bulletin released?

The U.S. Department of State released it on October 22, 2026, for use during November 2026.

Can I file my green card application in New York in November 2026?

Yes, if your priority date is earlier than the Dates for Filing cutoff for your category and country. USCIS requires that chart for all I-485 filings this month.

I'm from the Dominican Republic. Did my F2A or F4 case move?

The Dominican Republic falls under Rest of World. F2A final action dates moved one month to October 22, 2026, and F4 moved a full year to October 22, 2012.

Did F4 move for Indian applicants in Queens and New Jersey?

No. F4 India stays at December 15, 2006. F1 India did move a full year to January 22, 2021.

Did EB-2 move for New York healthcare and tech workers?

EB-2 ROW, Mexico and the Philippines advanced three months to April 1, 2025. EB-2 China and India did not move.

Where will my green card interview be in New York?

At the USCIS field office named on your appointment notice. The New York City District covers the five boroughs, Long Island and the Hudson Valley.

Do I need to visit your Manhattan office?

No. Most clients work with us remotely, and our office at 127 West 30th Street is open by appointment if you prefer to meet in person.

Get your green card paperwork ready with NAIS

New York Area Immigration Services has prepared immigration documentation for more than 23 years, from our Manhattan office and remotely across all 50 states. When the Visa Bulletin moves, we help New York families and employers file complete, consistent packages without delay.

• Priority date check: we confirm whether your category and country are current under this month's chart.

• Adjustment of status packages: I-485, I-765 and I-131 preparation with a document checklist built for you.

• Family green cards: I-130 and supporting documentation for spouses, parents, children and siblings.

• Employment green cards: PERM, I-140, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW and EB-3 documentation, backed by our 350+ expert panel for opinion letters.

• Flat fees, quoted in writing before any work begins.

We serve Manhattan, Queens and Jackson Heights, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester, Jersey City and Hoboken, Edison and Iselin, and Connecticut.

Find out in 20 minutes whether you can file this month. Book a free consultation, call +1 (718) 973-9373 or email Kritagya@newyorkareaimmigrationservices.com. Our office is at 127 West 30th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10001, by appointment.

Note: We are not attorneys in the U.S. and we do not give legal advice. Our scope is limited to preparing documentation for immigration petitions. This article is for general information only. Visa Bulletin dates change monthly, and USCIS, the Department of State and U.S. consulates decide every case.

Sources: U.S. Department of State, November 2026 Visa Bulletin · USCIS, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts · NYC Mayor's Office, The Newest New Yorkers 2026