November 2017 Visa Bulletin: Modest Advancements for EB-2 China and India and EB-3 China
October 12, 2017

Country / Territory
Executive Summary
- EB-1 will remain current for all countries.
- EB-2 will remain current for most countries, except China and India, which will each advance by three weeks.
- EB-3 cutoff dates for professionals and skilled workers will advance by one month for China, six weeks for the Philippines, and will remain unchanged for India.
The State Department’s November Visa Bulletin notes the following final action cutoff dates for November.
- EB-1: Will remain current for all countries.
- EB-2: Most countries will remain current. China will advance by three weeks, to June 15, 2013. India will advance by three weeks, to October 8, 2008.
- EB-3: Most countries will remain current. China will advance by one month, to February 1, 2014. India will remain at October 15, 2006. The Philippines will advance by six weeks, to January 15, 2016. In the other worker subcategory, China will advance by three months, to April 1, 2006; the Phillipines will advance by six weeks, to January 15, 2016; and India will remain at October 15, 2006.
- EB-4: Most countries will remain current. El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras will remain at November 1, 2015. Mexico will advance by one month, to April 1, 2016.
- EB-5: China will advance by one week, to July 1, 2014, for the Regional Center and Non-Regional Center programs.
In the coming days, USCIS is expected to announce on its own Visa Bulletin web page whether it will accept adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for filing eligibility in November.
FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR NOVEMBER 2017
EB-1
Current for all countries
EB-2
China: June 15, 2013
India: October 8, 2008
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: February 1, 2014
India: October 15, 2006
Philippines: January 15, 2016
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Other Workers
China: April 1, 2006
India: October 15, 2006
Philippines: January 15, 2016
All other countries: Current
EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: November 1, 2015
Mexico: April 1, 2016
All other countries: Current
EB-5
China: July 1, 2014
Current for all other countries and subcategories
FILING ELIGIBILITY CUT-OFF DATES FOR NOVEMBER 2017
EB-1
Current for all countries
EB-2
China: November 15, 2013
India: February 8, 2009
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: September 1, 2015
India: January 1, 2008
Philippines: August 1, 2016
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Other Workers
China: June 1, 2008
India: January 1, 2008
Philippines: August 1, 2016
All other countries: Current
EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: April 15, 2016
All other countries: Current
EB-5
China: October 1, 2014
Current for all other countries and subcategories
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
Country / Territory
Explore more at Fragomen
Blog post
Media mentions
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler outlines the key compliance considerations for employers with employees working across the EU.
Podcast
Associates Stephanie D. Weaver and Julia Manacher examine immigration issues emerging in a popular reality television series, including K-1 visa denials, consular non-reviewability, fraud findings and changing adjudication policies.
Blog post
Manager Dr. Adela Schmidt examines common misconceptions in German citizenship law, including birthright citizenship, dual citizenship, citizenship by descent and naturalization processing, and explains why eligibility often depends on specific legal requirements, timelines and documentation.
Awards
Partner Audrea Golding, Senior Associate Kyle Sommer and Senior Talent Development Director Wendy Milici have been named finalists in the 2026 TLC Lions Human Awards Americas, recognizing their contributions to human-centered leadership, workplace culture and inclusion.
Media mentions
Fragomen and SICPA have launched a global joint venture to develop an end-to-end digital identity platform that enables secure identity verification, document authentication and verifiable credential management.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses how potential changes to H-1B visas, employment-based green cards and OPT could impact employers’ workforce planning and compliance obligations.
Media mentions
In a Leaders in Motion interview with World Business Travel Forum, Partner Ali Haider and Nomadic CEO Carsten Østberg discuss recent travel and mobility developments across the Middle East and practical considerations for employers managing cross-border talent in the region.
Media mentions
Partner Rachel Beardsley explains how new DHS guidance clarifies that dairy employers may use the H-2A program when they can demonstrate a temporary or seasonal labor need.
Fragomen news
Fragomen and SICPA announced the formation of a global joint venture to advance next-generation digital identity solutions for governments, enterprises and individuals.
Blog post
Senior Associate Kyle Sommer and Adam Schwartz, Director in the Global Mobility practice at Andersen, discuss how immigration and tax considerations intersect across common US immigration classifications and why early coordination can help travelers, employers and advisors reduce compliance risks and make more informed mobility decisions.
Blog post
Media mentions
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler outlines the key compliance considerations for employers with employees working across the EU.
Podcast
Associates Stephanie D. Weaver and Julia Manacher examine immigration issues emerging in a popular reality television series, including K-1 visa denials, consular non-reviewability, fraud findings and changing adjudication policies.
Blog post
Manager Dr. Adela Schmidt examines common misconceptions in German citizenship law, including birthright citizenship, dual citizenship, citizenship by descent and naturalization processing, and explains why eligibility often depends on specific legal requirements, timelines and documentation.
Awards
Partner Audrea Golding, Senior Associate Kyle Sommer and Senior Talent Development Director Wendy Milici have been named finalists in the 2026 TLC Lions Human Awards Americas, recognizing their contributions to human-centered leadership, workplace culture and inclusion.
Media mentions
Fragomen and SICPA have launched a global joint venture to develop an end-to-end digital identity platform that enables secure identity verification, document authentication and verifiable credential management.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses how potential changes to H-1B visas, employment-based green cards and OPT could impact employers’ workforce planning and compliance obligations.
Media mentions
In a Leaders in Motion interview with World Business Travel Forum, Partner Ali Haider and Nomadic CEO Carsten Østberg discuss recent travel and mobility developments across the Middle East and practical considerations for employers managing cross-border talent in the region.
Media mentions
Partner Rachel Beardsley explains how new DHS guidance clarifies that dairy employers may use the H-2A program when they can demonstrate a temporary or seasonal labor need.
Fragomen news
Fragomen and SICPA announced the formation of a global joint venture to advance next-generation digital identity solutions for governments, enterprises and individuals.
Blog post
Senior Associate Kyle Sommer and Adam Schwartz, Director in the Global Mobility practice at Andersen, discuss how immigration and tax considerations intersect across common US immigration classifications and why early coordination can help travelers, employers and advisors reduce compliance risks and make more informed mobility decisions.

