November 2025 Visa Bulletin & the Nov 1 NVC rule: what it means right now
The Visa Bulletin is the U.S. State Department’s monthly queue for immigrant visas. For each category (e.g., EB-1EB-2EB-3) it lists cut-off dates you compare with your priority date (the date your petition took its place in line). If your date is “current,” you can move to final steps — a consular interview or Adjustment of Status (AOS) in the U.S.
Starting Nov 1, 2025, a key change took effect: the National Visa Center (NVC) schedules interviews by your current country of residence by default. An interview in your country of citizenship is possible by request, with limits. For applicants from Ukraine, Russia and other regions, this reshapes the usual interview location, medical exam, and logistics.
Heads-up: if you’re looking for EAD/work authorization rules, that’s a separate topic. Here we focus on visa queues, bulletin charts, and interview location.
How to read the Visa Bulletin without tripping up
The two charts
- Final Action Dates (FAD) — the finish line. When your priority date ≤ this date, a visa is actually available for approval.
- Dates for Filing (DFF) — the early chart. Lets you file a package early so NVC/USCIS can pre-process.
Which to use for AOS? Each month USCIS announces the chart to use for AOS. Sometimes DFF, sometimes FAD only — always check their “When/Which chart to use” page.
Quick example
You’re EB-2, “All Chargeability,” priority date Dec 10, 2023. November FAD for EB-2 shows Dec 01, 2023, so by FAD you’re not yet current. But if USCIS allows AOS by DFF this month and DFF shows, say, Jul 15, 2024, you may file AOS now.
EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 — November 2025
| Category | All Chargeability | China (mainland) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 22 Dec 2022 | 15 Feb 2022 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 01 Dec 2023 | 01 Apr 2021 | 01 Apr 2013 | 01 Dec 2023 | 01 Dec 2023 |
| EB-3 | 01 Apr 2023 | 01 Mar 2021 | 22 Aug 2013 | 01 Apr 2023 | 01 Apr 2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 15 Jul 2021 | 01 Dec 2017 | 22 Aug 2013 | 15 Jul 2021 | 15 Jul 2021 |
“C” means “current” — numbers are available to all qualified applicants in that column.
| Category | All Chargeability | China (mainland) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 15 May 2023 | 15 Apr 2023 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 15 Jul 2024 | 01 Dec 2021 | 01 Dec 2013 | 15 Jul 2024 | 15 Jul 2024 |
| EB-3 | 01 Jul 2023 | 01 Jan 2022 | 15 Aug 2014 | 01 Jul 2023 | 01 Jul 2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01 Dec 2021 | 01 Oct 2018 | 15 Aug 2014 | 01 Dec 2021 | 01 Dec 2021 |
If USCIS authorizes AOS by DFF this month, you can file even if FAD is not yet current.
From Nov 1, 2025: NVC schedules interviews by your country of residence
Core policy
- Default interview post is in the country where you currently live.
- Interview in country of citizenship is possible by request (with limits/checks).
- Goal: reduce post-COVID “visa tourism” to a few posts and balance workload.
Practical effects
- Re-align your plan: medical exam, fees and documents should match your current residence country.
- Moving the case to another country takes time and strong reasons (logistics, safety, documentation).
- Always check post-specific rules: police certificate validity, vaccines, translation formats.
Who’s most affected
- Applicants who expected “traditional” posts (e.g., Warsaw) outside their residence country.
- Frequent movers (internships, short contracts) — keep address evidence current.
- Those with medical/family constraints — prepare documents early for the new location.
Interactive checklist: ready for interview/AOS?
Confirm the current residence country in your case
Check the address in NVC/CEAC/with your attorney. Under the new rule, this drives your interview post.
Check medical exam providers and interview slots
On your consulate’s page, review panel physicians and scheduling. This can bottleneck your timeline.
Choose location: residence or citizenship?
If you need citizenship country, prepare a reasoned request and expect delays due to reassignment.
Update documents for the chosen location
Police certificates, translations, address proof, vaccines — post requirements differ.
Verify which chart USCIS uses for AOS this month
See USCIS “When/Which chart to use” to know if DFF is permitted. That decides if you can file now.
Your ticks are saved locally in this browser (localStorage).
Decision flow: “Category → Chart → Decision”
Text size:
Identify your category EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 and your priority date on I-140.
Open the November 2025 Visa Bulletin and find your country column (All Chargeability / India / China, etc.).
On the USCIS page, check which chart is used for AOS this month: Final Action or Dates for Filing.
AOS (in the U.S.): if your priority date is ≤ the active chart date, you may file your AOS package.
Consular processing: check the NVC rule — interview is typically in your country of residence.
Tip: if USCIS allows DFF for AOS this month, you can file earlier even when FAD is not yet current.
Prepare I-693 (medical), police certificates, translations, fees and forms. For consular cases, confirm panel physicians, post-specific rules and interview booking.
Mini-checker: “Can I file AOS in November?”
Educational only and relies on the tables shown here. Always confirm with current USCIS/DoS data.
AOS in the U.S. this month: step-by-step
- Confirm which chart USCIS set for AOS in November (FAD or DFF).
- Compare your priority date to the date for your category/country column.
- If current — prepare: I-485, fees, I-693 medical, status proof, category evidence.
- If I-140 is not yet approved, discuss concurrent filing. Strong evidence mitigates risk.
- For derivatives (spouse/children), try to synchronize filings to avoid status gaps.
EAD/work authorization timelines are covered in a separate article; this guide is about visa queues and AOS eligibility.
Glossary: plain-English definitions
- Priority date
- The date your petition took its place in line. You compare it to bulletin dates.
- Final Action Dates (FAD)
- The “finish line” chart — visas are truly available for approval.
- Dates for Filing (DFF)
- The “early filing” chart — allows pre-processing before visas are available.
- Adjustment of Status (AOS)
- Green card process inside the U.S. without a consular interview.
- NVC (National Visa Center)
- Pre-processes immigrant cases and schedules consular interviews.
- Panel physician
- Authorized clinic for the required immigrant medical exam.
FAQ
Can I change the interview country?
Yes, but default is now country of residence. Moving to citizenship country requires a reasoned request and extra time.
What’s faster — AOS or consular processing?
It depends on your local office/post and category. AOS can be simpler logistically, but not always faster.
May I use DFF for AOS?
Only if USCIS authorizes DFF for AOS that month. Check USCIS “Which chart to use.”
Do police certificates need updating if the interview location changes?
Often yes. Validity and format vary by post. Check the post’s specific rules.
How to handle derivatives (spouse/children)?
Try to synchronize filings/appointments to avoid status gaps and re-scheduling.
Common mistakes that slow cases down
- Mixing up FAD and DFF and filing AOS by the wrong chart.
- Ignoring the NVC rule and planning for the “old” interview country.
- Not updating documents for the new location (police certificates, translations, I-693).
- Unsynchronized derivative filings — status gaps and extra rescheduling.
- Underestimating reassignment timelines and medical booking delays.
Official sources with brief notes
-
Visa Bulletin — November 2025 (Employment-Based)
Primary tables: Final Action & Dates for Filing. Compare your category/country against these dates. travel.state.gov — Visa Bulletin (Nov 2025) -
USCIS — Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
USCIS announces monthly which chart (FAD/DFF) to use for AOS. This decides if you can file now. uscis.gov — When to File / Which Chart to Use -
DoS/NVC — Interview by Country of Residence (effective Nov 1, 2025)
Policy for scheduling interviews based on current residence; request path for citizenship-country interviews. travel.state.gov / nvc.state.gov — Policy/Announcement (Nov 1, 2025) -
TPS Ukraine — USCIS & Federal Register
Extension timelines and re-registration procedures for those in the U.S. considering AOS. uscis.gov — Temporary Protected Status (Ukraine) • federalregister.gov — Notices
