October 2026 Visa Bulletin: Key Changes and What They Mean

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin marks the beginning of fiscal year 2027, bringing with it a mix of advancements and retrogression in visa availability. This bulletin reflects the annual reset of visa numbers and introduces shifts that impact various employment-based and family-sponsored categories. Understanding these changes is crucial for individuals navigating the U.S. immigration process, as they directly affect when applications can be filed and approved.

Employment-Based Final Action Dates: A Shifting Landscape

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin shows significant movement in several employment-based categories, particularly for individuals in India and those in “Rest of World” (ROW) categories. For EB-2 India, the Final Action date reopens at November 1, 2013, after being unavailable. Similarly, EB-5 Unreserved India returns with a date of December 1, 2023.

However, the picture is different for many other employment-based applicants. The EB-2 category for all chargeability areas, including Mexico and the Philippines, has moved from Current to January 1, 2025. This represents a significant retrogression. The EB-3 category for ROW and Mexico also sees a backward movement, dropping 109 days to May 15, 2024. These shifts are attributed to the need to manage visa issuances within the new fiscal year’s quarterly and annual limits.

Employment-Based Dates for Filing: A Closer Look

The “Dates for Filing” chart, which USCIS is using for employment-based adjustment filings in October, also shows notable changes. While China sees sharp advancements in its EB-3 and EB-5 Unreserved categories, the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for ROW experience a loss of their Current status. Specifically, EB-2 ROW, Mexico, and Philippines move to March 15, 2026, on the filing chart, and EB-3 ROW and Mexico move to August 1, 2024. These changes mean that even if one’s priority date is current on the Final Action chart, they may need to wait for the Dates for Filing to advance before they can submit their adjustment of status application.

India and China: Country-Specific Movements

The bulletin highlights distinct trends for applicants from India and China. India experiences gains across several employment categories. Its EB-1 category advances by 109 days, and EB-2 and EB-5 Unreserved categories are restored. The EB-3 and Other Workers categories for India remain at January 1, 2014.

China’s Final Action dates show smaller, incremental movements, but its Dates for Filing see substantial jumps. EB-3 China’s Filing date moves forward by 814 days to April 1, 2024, and EB-5 Unreserved China’s Filing date advances by 1,461 days to March 1, 2021. These significant forward movements in filing dates could allow many Chinese applicants to proceed with their adjustment of status applications sooner.

Family-Sponsored Visa Categories: Stability and Targeted Advances

For most family-sponsored applicants, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin shows little change from the previous month, largely maintaining the advances made in September. However, there are specific improvements for certain categories and countries. India’s F4 category sees a 44-day advance on the Final Action chart, moving to December 15, 2006.

Mexico and the Philippines also experience targeted gains. The F2B Mexico category advances significantly on the Final Action chart by 454 days to May 15, 2010. The F2A category sees a 31-day advance for most countries, with Mexico receiving a larger 212-day increase on the Final Action chart. The Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored categories remains largely stable, with F2A staying Current.

Diversity Visa Program: No October Updates

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin does not include any updates for the Diversity Visa (DV) program. The DV-2026 program year concluded on September 30, 2026. Crucially, the registration for DV-2027 never opened, meaning there are no selectees or ranks to publish in this bulletin. This absence of DV information is a direct result of the State Department not opening the registration period for the upcoming DV year.

Understanding the Fiscal Year Reset

The transition from September to October marks a fiscal year reset, moving from FY-2026 to FY-2027. This means that visa numbers are replenished, but also subject to new annual and quarterly limits. The State Department has indicated that the retrogression in some “Rest of World” employment categories is necessary to ensure visa issuances remain within these new FY-2027 limits. The bulletin also notes that the employment-based limit for FY-2027 is set at a minimum of 140,000, with the potential to increase based on unused family visa numbers from the previous year.

Key Action Items Based on Bulletin Changes

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin necessitates specific actions depending on an applicant’s category and country of chargeability.

• EB-2 India: With the Final Action date reopening at November 1, 2013, and USCIS accepting the Dates for Filing chart, eligible applicants can now file their I-485 adjustment of status applications.
• EB-5 Unreserved India: The Final Action date is now December 1, 2023, and filing is open on the Dates for Filing chart, allowing for application submissions.
• EB-1 China and India: The Dates for Filing have seen a significant jump, potentially allowing for earlier application submissions.
• EB-2 Rest of World, Mexico, Philippines: While still able to file, approvals now require a priority date before January 1, 2025, a change from the previous “Current” status.
• EB-3 Rest of World and Mexico: Filing remains open, but the Final Action date has moved back to May 15, 2024, requiring a wait for approval.
• EB-4 and Religious Workers: The Dates for Filing have advanced by two years, offering a quicker path for eligible applicants.
• Family-Sponsored Categories: Most categories remain stable, with specific advances for India F4, Mexico F2B, and F2A across various countries. Applicants should verify their specific category and country for any minor date movements.
• Diversity Visa Entrants: As DV-2027 registration did not open, there are no immediate actions related to this program for the current bulletin.

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