Visa BulletinNovember 2026 bulletin · signed Oct 5, 2026
November 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Other Workers (unskilled) advances 5 months
Applies to people born in Vietnam (column All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed).
| Category | Chart A – Final Action Date | Chart B – Dates for Filing |
|---|
EB-3 Other Workers
Unskilled workers | Jun 1, 2022 ▲ 5 months
Oct: Jan 1, 2022 | Jul 1, 2022 ▲ 1 month
Oct: Jun 1, 2022 |
EB-3 Skilled / Professionals
Skilled workers / Degree holders | Jun 15, 2024 ▲ 1 month
Oct: May 15, 2024 | Aug 1, 2024 = no change |
| EB-2 (incl. NIW) | Apr 1, 2025 ▲ 3 months | Mar 15, 2026 = no change |
| EB-1 | Current (no wait) | Current |
💡 How to read it If your priority date (usually the PERM filing date) is earlier than the date in Chart A, your case is eligible for a visa. USCIS says that for November 2026, people filing employment-based I-485 in the US use Chart B (Dates for Filing). Visa dates can move forward, stay the same or move backward – no one can guarantee a timeline.
Read our November 2026 Visa Bulletin analysis → · How to read the Visa Bulletin
Official sources: travel.state.gov – Visa Bulletin, November 2026 · uscis.gov – Filing Charts
Visa BulletinOct 27, 2026
December 2026 Visa Bulletin: not yet published
December 2026 Visa Bulletin
As of Oct 27, 2026, the Department of State has only posted the October and November 2026 bulletins for fiscal year 2027. GJO will update this as soon as the December bulletin is published (usually mid-month of the previous month).
Source: travel.state.gov
Visa BulletinOct 5, 2026
USCIS: employment-based I-485 filings in November 2026 use Chart B
Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
USCIS confirmed that people filing employment-based adjustment of status (I-485) in the US in November 2026 use the Dates for Filing chart. For EB-3 Other Workers, a priority date earlier than Jul 1, 2022 may file an I-485. Family-based categories also use Chart B.
Source: uscis.gov
DOL / PERMOct 5, 2026
PERM processing times: DOL is reviewing cases filed in January 2026
PERM Processing Times
According to FLAG (updated Oct 5, 2026): Analyst Review is processing cases with priority dates in January 2026; Audit Review is at December 2025; Reconsideration requests are at May 2026. Average Analyst Review time: 336 days (figure listed for August 2026). See also: What is PERM?
Source: flag.dol.gov
Other categoriesOct 5, 2026
Family-based, November 2026: many groups advance up to 1 year
Family-sponsored – November 2026
Chart A (All Chargeability): F1 Jan 22, 2021 · F2A Oct 22, 2026 · F2B Aug 22, 2020 · F3 Oct 22, 2015 · F4 Oct 22, 2012 – most advance 1 year compared with October. Chart B: F2A "Current".
Source: travel.state.gov
USCISOct 2, 2026
Technical update on automatic extensions of work permits (EAD)
EAD automatic extensions
USCIS updated Policy Manual Vol. 10, Part A on automatic EAD extensions and added category (c)(40) to the validity period table. This is a technical update with no fee changes.
Source: uscis.gov
DOL / PERMSep 30, 2026
Prevailing wage (PWD) times for PERM: requests from June 2026 now in process
Prevailing Wage Determination
As of Sep 30, 2026, DOL is processing PERM PWD requests filed in June 2026 (both OEWS and non-OEWS); redetermination requests are at July 2026.
Source: flag.dol.gov
Other categoriesSep 29, 2026
EB-5: USCIS adjusts fees, effective Nov 30, 2026
EB-5 fee final rule
The final rule sets EB-5 fees to cover program operating costs, under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. November 2026 Visa Bulletin: all EB-5 groups are "Current" for All Chargeability.
Source: uscis.gov
Other categoriesSep 11, 2026
H-2B: cap reached for the first half of fiscal year 2027
H-2B cap reached
USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the H-2B cap (temporary non-agricultural workers) for the first half of fiscal year 2027. The final receipt date was Sep 4, 2026 for petitions with start dates before Apr 1, 2027.
Source: uscis.gov
Visa BulletinSep 4, 2026
October 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 "Rest of World" retrogresses at the start of fiscal year 2027
Retrogression – FY2027
The first bulletin of fiscal year 2027 moved EB-3 Other Workers (Chart A) back from Apr 1, 2022 to Jan 1, 2022, and EB-3 Skilled from Sep 1, 2024 to May 15, 2024. The Department of State said this keeps visa use within the quarterly/annual limits and that it will continue to monitor.
Source: travel.state.gov
Other categoriesAug 28, 2026
Department of State: pause on immigrant visas for 75 countries no longer in effect
Immigrant visa processing update
Under a court order, as of Aug 21, 2026 the pause (which began Jan 21, 2026) on issuing immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries is no longer in effect. Vietnam is not on the list on the official page.
Source: travel.state.gov
Other categoriesAug 24, 2026
H-1B: DHS proposes an extra $103,265 fee for cap-subject petitions
Proposed H-1B fee
This is only a proposed rule and is not yet in effect: an additional $103,265 fee for each cap-subject H-1B petition, paid at the time of filing.
Source: uscis.gov
USCISAug 19, 2026
New Form I-485 edition (09/18/26) required from Sep 18, 2026 – no grace period
New Form I-485 edition
The 09/18/26 edition replaces the 01/20/25 edition, revised under the new public charge rule. Filings on the old edition sent on or after Sep 18, 2026 will be rejected.
Source: uscis.gov
USCISAug 18, 2026
New "public charge" guidance takes effect Sep 18, 2026
Public Charge – Policy Manual
USCIS updated its Policy Manual (Vol. 8, Part G) to follow the public charge final rule (91 FR 45324, Jul 20, 2026), replacing the 2022 rule. It applies to people applying for adjustment of status in the US, including EB-3.
Source: uscis.gov
USCISAug 5, 2026
USCIS may deny right away if initial evidence is missing, without an RFE
Evidence standards – RFE/NOID
USCIS restored officers' discretion to deny a case without first sending a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) when required evidence is missing at filing. It applies to cases pending or filed from Aug 5, 2026, including I-140, I-485 and I-765. → Preparing a complete file from the start matters more than ever.
Source: uscis.gov
DOL / PERMJun 29, 2026
DOL publishes new OEWS wage data for Jul 2026 – Jun 2027
OEWS Prevailing Wage Data
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) posted new prevailing wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, effective Jul 1, 2026. Since then there have been no new rules specific to PERM, ETA-9089 or Schedule A.
Source: dol.gov
📌 Compiled information for reference only – not legal advice. Check the official versions at travel.state.gov, uscis.gov, dol.gov before making decisions. Dates shown are the publication/signing dates on the documents. Independent information & referral page.
