US Visa Bulletin for November 2025 Released: Key Changes to Note

The US Department of State released the Visa Bulletin for November 2025, showing only minor progress in visa availability across several categories.

The bulletin outlines two key dates: Final Action Dates, which indicate when green card applications can be approved, and Dates for Filing, which show when applicants may submit their documents to the National Visa Centre (NVC). Applicants generally must follow the Final Action Dates when filing for adjustment of status unless the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows use of the more flexible Dates for Filing chart if visa demand is below the annual limit.

In family-sponsored categories, movement remains limited. The F2B category (unmarried adult children of permanent residents) has advanced slightly to 1 December 2016, while the F2A category (spouses and minor children of permanent residents) remains unchanged at 1 February 2024. 

Other family categories, including F1 (unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens), F3 (married sons and daughters of US citizens), and F4 (siblings of US citizens), show no progress this month. Employment-based categories also show modest changes. For Indian nationals, the EB-1 category (priority workers) has retrogressed to 1 February 2022. 

EB-2 (advanced degree holders and individuals with exceptional ability) has moved forward slightly to 15 October 2012. The EB-3 category (skilled workers and professionals) remains largely unchanged. USCIS has confirmed that employment-based applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart for November, allowing some to begin the adjustment process despite visa unavailability.

The Diversity Visa (DV) programme continues to operate with regional cut-off numbers for November and December. Only applicants with DV-2026 lottery numbers below the regional thresholds are eligible to proceed, ensuring visas are distributed fairly across regions.

This bulletin provides essential guidance for applicants amid ongoing visa backlogs, especially for high-demand countries such as India, where wait times remain lengthy. The limited movement in priority dates reflects the fixed visa quotas that apply regardless of demand.

As the fiscal year advances, applicants and immigration professionals will monitor future bulletins for any changes in visa availability. The November 2025 bulletin confirms that progress remains slow.