November 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Now Leads EB-2 for India and China

6 min read

Oct 26, 2026

Angle: the October 22 posts from GoElite, Murthy and BAL report what moved. This post explains what the cutoffs mean when you compare categories against each other, which none of them do.

The November 2026 Visa Bulletin puts EB-3 ahead of EB-2 for applicants born in India and mainland China. On the Final Action Dates chart, India EB-3 sits at January 22, 2014, versus November 1, 2013, for EB-2. China EB-3 sits at January 22, 2022, versus October 1, 2021, for EB-2. For everyone else, EB-2 still leads.

Most coverage of this bulletin, including our own GoElite recap, tracked which dates moved. This post compares the categories against each other. For international students planning an employer-sponsored green card, which line you stand in can matter as much as when you join it.

See: November 2026 Visa Bulletin Advances EB-2 and EB-3 Dates

Key Takeaways

India EB-3 is about 2.7 months ahead of India EB-2 on the Final Action Dates chart.

China EB-3 is about 3.7 months ahead of China EB-2 on Final Action Dates, and 15 months ahead on Dates for Filing.

For all other countries, EB-2 (April 1, 2025) leads EB-3 (June 15, 2024) by about 9.5 months.

USCIS is using the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based I-485 filings in November.

The bulletin does not change F-1, CPT, OPT or H-1B rules. You still need valid status for the whole wait.

EB-2 vs. EB-3 in the November 2026 Visa Bulletin
Should You Downgrade From EB-2 to EB-3?
The Green Card Wait Is a Status Problem, Not Just a Date Problem
What to Do This Month, by Situation
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion

1. EB-2 vs. EB-3 in the November 2026 Visa Bulletin

The category that leads depends on your country of chargeability, and the answer can differ between the two charts. Final Action Dates control when a green card can be approved. Dates for Filing control when an I-485 can be submitted, if USCIS allows that chart in a given month.

Country of chargeability	EB-2 Final Action	EB-3 Final Action	Leads on Final Action	EB-2 Dates for Filing	EB-3 Dates for Filing	Leads on Dates for Filing
India	Nov 1, 2013	Jan 22, 2014	EB-3 (~2.7 months)	Jan 15, 2015	Jan 15, 2015	Tie
China (mainland born)	Oct 1, 2021	Jan 22, 2022	EB-3 (~3.7 months)	Jan 1, 2023	Apr 1, 2024	EB-3 (15 months)
All other countries and Mexico	Apr 1, 2025	Jun 15, 2024	EB-2 (~9.5 months)	Mar 15, 2026	Aug 1, 2024	EB-2 (~19.5 months)

Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for November 2026. A priority date must be earlier than the listed date to qualify.

Two more details stand out for students from India. EB-3 Other Workers for India also sits at January 22, 2014, the same as skilled-worker EB-3. And EB-5 unreserved for India is at December 1, 2023, while the rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure set-asides stay current for every country.

2. Should You Downgrade From EB-2 to EB-3?

For Chinese nationals, an EB-3 petition is worth discussing this month; for Indian nationals, the edge is too small to act on alone. "Downgrading" means your employer files a second I-140 in EB-3 while the EB-2 petition stays in place, so you can use whichever category reaches your priority date first.

For India, EB-3 leads EB-2 by 82 days on Final Action Dates and ties on Dates for Filing. A lead that small can disappear in a single bulletin.

For China, the bigger gap is on Dates for Filing: April 1, 2024, for EB-3 against January 1, 2023, for EB-2. Because USCIS is accepting that chart in November, a Chinese national with a 2023 priority date may be able to file an I-485 through EB-3 but not through EB-2.

Before asking for a second petition, weigh three things:

Employer cooperation and cost. A new I-140 means another filing fee and attorney time.
Job fit. EB-3 professionals need a job requiring at least a bachelor's degree; most EB-2 PERM roles qualify.
Volatility. Dates can stall or regress, and the leading category has switched before.

If you are early in your career, a stronger profile may also open EB-1 or a National Interest Waiver.

See EB-1A Gains Appeal as EB-2 NIW Visa Lines Tighten.

3. The Green Card Wait Is a Status Problem, Not Just a Date Problem

A priority date only counts if you can stay in the U.S. lawfully until it becomes current. For an Indian national in EB-2 or EB-3, the Final Action cutoff is about 13 years behind the bulletin month. Backlog projections for new filers run far longer, as we covered in Indian EB-2 Green Card Wait Could Reach 179 Years.

The usual path for an F-1 graduate runs through several temporary statuses before a green card:

F-1 with OPT, plus the STEM extension if your degree qualifies.
H-1B, which depends on the annual lottery and employer sponsorship.
PERM and I-140, which set your priority date, usually filed by an H-1B employer.
I-485 adjustment of status, once your date is current on the chart USCIS designates that month.

When the H-1B lottery doesn't come through, some students use a Day 1 CPT program to keep F-1 status and work authorization while they try again. CPT must be an integral part of the curriculum and authorized by your school's DSO. It is a status-maintenance option, not a green card route, and it draws more scrutiny than standard CPT.

See which CPT employers participate before you enroll.

Once an I-485 is filed, you can generally apply for a work permit (EAD) and advance parole while it is pending. That is why the Dates for Filing chart matters so much for students: filing early can reduce dependence on student or H-1B status.

OPT EAD Card: Application, Fees, Processing Time

4. What Does This Mean for Day 1 CPT?

Your situation

What the November bulletin means

Next step

Indian or Chinese national with an approved EB-2 I-140

EB-3 is slightly ahead on Final Action Dates

Ask your employer's attorney whether a parallel EB-3 I-140 makes sense for your priority date

Chinese national with a 2023 priority date

EB-3 Dates for Filing (Apr 1, 2024) is open; EB-2 (Jan 1, 2023) is not

Check whether an EB-3 filing would let you submit an I-485 in November

Any other country, priority date before Mar 15, 2026 (EB-2) or Aug 1, 2024 (EB-3)

You can file an I-485 in November under the Dates for Filing chart

File while the chart is open; USCIS picks the chart month by month

F-1 student or OPT holder with no petition yet

No priority date, so no cutoff applies to you

Plan status for the full wait: OPT, H-1B lottery, and a backup such as Day 1 CPT

H-1B lottery not selected

The green card timeline doesn't change

Compare options in a free consultation before your OPT ends

Your situation	What the November bulletin means	Next step
Indian or Chinese national with an approved EB-2 I-140	EB-3 is slightly ahead on Final Action Dates	Ask your employer's attorney whether a parallel EB-3 I-140 makes sense for your priority date
Chinese national with a 2023 priority date	EB-3 Dates for Filing (Apr 1, 2024) is open; EB-2 (Jan 1, 2023) is not	Check whether an EB-3 filing would let you submit an I-485 in November
Any other country, priority date before Mar 15, 2026 (EB-2) or Aug 1, 2024 (EB-3)	You can file an I-485 in November under the Dates for Filing chart	File while the chart is open; USCIS picks the chart month by month
F-1 student or OPT holder with no petition yet	No priority date, so no cutoff applies to you	Plan status for the full wait: OPT, H-1B lottery, and a backup such as Day 1 CPT
H-1B lottery not selected	The green card timeline doesn't change	Compare options in a free consultation before your OPT ends

Cutoffs can move backward as well as forward. Approval still requires a current Final Action Date, even after you file under Dates for Filing.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Is EB-3 faster than EB-2 for India in November 2026?

Yes, slightly. India EB-3 has a Final Action Date of January 22, 2014, and India EB-2 has November 1, 2013. On the Dates for Filing chart, both are January 15, 2015.

Is EB-3 faster than EB-2 for China in November 2026?

Yes. China EB-3 Final Action is January 22, 2022, versus October 1, 2021, for EB-2. On Dates for Filing, EB-3 is April 1, 2024, versus January 1, 2023, for EB-2.

Which chart does USCIS use for employment-based I-485 filings in November 2026?

USCIS is using the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based adjustment of status in November 2026. It updates the chart each month.

Can I keep my priority date if I switch from EB-2 to EB-3?

Usually, if your EB-2 I-140 was approved and not revoked for fraud or error. Your employer files a new EB-3 I-140, often based on the same PERM labor certification. Confirm with an immigration attorney before acting.

Does the Visa Bulletin affect my F-1, CPT, or OPT status?

No. The bulletin controls immigrant visa numbers only. F-1, CPT, OPT, and H-1B rules are separate, and you must keep valid status while you wait.

6. Conclusion

The November 2026 Visa Bulletin is a reminder that category choice matters, not just the calendar. For Indian and Chinese nationals, EB-3 now sits ahead of EB-2, and for China, the Dates for Filing gap opens a real I-485 window this month. For everyone else, EB-2 remains the faster line.

Whatever your category, the wait runs for years, and your green card plan only works if your status holds the whole way. If your OPT clock is running or you missed the H-1B lottery, plan your next step now rather than in your final month of work authorization.