Nobody outside the State Department can tell you what the November 2026 Visa Bulletin will say, and the bulletin itself does not publish predictions. What we can do is look at where the October 2026 bulletin left each family category, explain what usually moves a date and what does not, and tell you what to do now so you are ready whichever way it goes. The November bulletin is normally posted on the State Department’s Visa Bulletin page during the middle of October, so check there for the real numbers.
The short version
The October bulletin opened fiscal year 2027 with F2A at September 22, 2026 for most countries, F1 at January 22, 2020, F2B at August 22, 2019, F3 at October 22, 2014, and F4 at October 22, 2011. Month to month, most categories hold or move a little. Treat any exact prediction, including ours, as a guess, and prepare your paperwork so a movement does not catch you off guard.
Key Takeaways
- The October 2026 bulletin is the starting point: most categories were flat for “all other countries,” while Mexico and the Philippines gained ground in several.
- Early in a fiscal year, small movement or no movement is more common than a big jump, but that is a pattern, not a promise.
- The best use of your time is getting documents, civil records, and your affidavit of support ready now.
Where did the October 2026 bulletin leave the family categories?
The State Department’s October bulletin set these final action dates for most countries: F1 (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, 21 and older) at January 22, 2020; F2A (spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders) at September 22, 2026; F2B at August 22, 2019; F3 at October 22, 2014; and F4 at October 22, 2011. The same bulletin shows F2A as “current” on the Dates for Filing chart, and it notes that the start of fiscal year 2027 made new immigrant visa numbers available. You can see every column in the bulletin itself.
Our full breakdown of what moved, country by country, is in our post on the October 2026 Visa Bulletin for the family categories. If you are new to how the charts work, start with our guide on how to read the Visa Bulletin.
Can anyone really predict the November 2026 Visa Bulletin?
No. The State Department sets each month’s dates based on how many visa numbers are available, how many qualified applicants have been documented, and how many numbers it expects to need for the rest of the fiscal year. We do not see that data, and neither do the websites that publish “predictions.” Some forecasts turn out close and others miss badly, so we would rather tell you what drives movement than hand you a date to plan your life around.
A few things are fair to say. Dates in a category can advance, hold, or move backward (retrogress). A category that advanced quickly can slow or retrogress later if demand catches up. And a category that is flat this month can move next month. None of that tells you which way your own date will go.
What usually moves a date, and what usually does not?
Dates tend to advance when the State Department sees unused numbers and not enough documented demand in a category. They tend to hold when demand is steady. They retrogress when demand outruns the numbers. Because October starts a new fiscal year and annual limits reset, the first few months often show modest changes, but that is a pattern we have seen, not a rule the government follows.
Two cautions. First, a country with very high demand, such as Mexico or the Philippines, has its own column, and its movement can look nothing like the “all other countries” column. Second, a jump on the Dates for Filing chart does not mean you can be approved. Final approval depends on the Final Action Dates chart, and USCIS says each month on its When to File page for October 2026 which chart applicants inside the United States should use.
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How do you read the November bulletin when it comes out?
Find your category (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, or F4) and your country column, then compare your priority date, the date your petition was filed, with the date shown. If your date is earlier than the Final Action Date, a visa number is available. Then look at the filing chart and the USCIS page to see whether you can submit an adjustment of status application now. Our explainer on how a priority date works covers where to find yours on your receipt notice, and our post on green card waiting times by country shows why the wait differs by where you were born.
Remember that spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives and are not held to these dates.
What should you do now, before the bulletin posts?
Use the wait. Gather your birth and marriage certificates, certified translations, police certificates if they apply, and passport pages. Update your sponsor’s tax transcripts and proof of income so the affidavit of support is ready. Keep the same address on file with USCIS and the National Visa Center, and answer every notice quickly. If a fee will be due when you file, review the current amounts in our USCIS fee cheat sheet so there are no surprises. If you were out of status or entered without inspection, ask us before you file anything, because Section 245(i) and other rules can change your options.
What should you avoid doing?
Do not file because of a rumor, and do not pay someone who promises to “lock in” a date. Do not assume that a date on the filing chart means you are approved. And do not stop planning because the date looks far away; some people qualify under more than one category, and a change in family circumstances, such as a marriage or a naturalization, can move you into a different one.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the November 2026 Visa Bulletin be released?
The State Department usually posts the next month’s bulletin in the middle of the current month, though the release date varies. The official place to check is the State Department Visa Bulletin page. We update our posts after it appears.
Does the Visa Bulletin predict future dates?
No. The bulletin reports the current month’s dates and sometimes includes notes about possible future movement, but it is not a forecast. Any specific prediction you read online is an estimate.
Which chart should I use, Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing?
If you are applying from outside the United States, the National Visa Center follows its own instructions. If you are applying for adjustment of status inside the United States, USCIS posts the chart to use each month on its When to File page.
What if my priority date becomes current while I am out of status?
Being current does not fix a status problem. Whether you can adjust depends on how you entered and your history in the United States. Please talk with us before you file.
How We Can Help
We help families understand where they stand in the visa line and what to file when a date comes up. At Ilabaca Law, PLLC, we review your petition, priority date, and history to see whether you should wait, file, or look at another route, and we prepare the filing so it is ready when your date is. To talk about your situation, call us at (407) 917-2087 or use the intake form to start a free pre-evaluation.
Our founding attorney Denisse Ilabaca is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, a distinction held by fewer than two percent of Florida attorneys.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Ilabaca Law, PLLC. Immigration law and agency policy change often, and the right step for you depends on your individual facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This may be considered an attorney advertisement.