The state department october 2026 visa bulletin brings a new set of immigrant visa cutoff dates as Fiscal Year 2027 begins, with important changes across family-sponsored and employment-based categories. The latest bulletin includes renewed visa availability for some heavily backlogged employment categories, notable movement for applicants from China and India, and retrogression in certain categories for applicants from other countries.
October is always an important month for people waiting for green cards because it marks the beginning of a new federal fiscal year. With new annual immigrant visa numbers becoming available, cutoff dates can move significantly compared with September. However, the latest bulletin also makes clear that movement can vary sharply by category and country of chargeability.
October 2026 Visa Bulletin Begins Fiscal Year 2027
The October bulletin covers immigrant visa availability for the first month of Fiscal Year 2027. It contains two major sets of dates: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing.
Final Action Dates are used to determine when an immigrant visa may be issued or when a qualifying adjustment-of-status case can move toward final approval.
Dates for Filing are generally earlier dates that allow eligible applicants to begin submitting documents to the National Visa Center. For applicants inside the United States, USCIS separately determines whether the Dates for Filing chart may be used to file Form I-485.
The distinction is critical because an applicant may become eligible to file an adjustment application before the applicant becomes eligible for final green card approval.
Key October 2026 Immigration Developments
Several developments stand out in the new bulletin.
First, the beginning of Fiscal Year 2027 brings fresh employment-based visa numbers after the limits for the previous fiscal year were reached or approached in several categories.
Second, EB-2 India is available again after becoming unavailable under the Final Action Dates chart during the closing months of Fiscal Year 2026.
Third, China sees significant advances in several employment-based categories, particularly in the filing-date charts.
At the same time, the Department of State has retrogressed certain employment-based dates for the rest of the world. The agency says those changes are necessary to keep visa issuances within the quarterly and annual limits for Fiscal Year 2027.
Family-Sponsored Green Card Dates for October 2026
Family-sponsored immigration remains divided into several preference categories. The October Final Action Dates are:
| Category | All Other Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jan. 22, 2020 | Jan. 22, 2020 | Jan. 22, 2020 | Sept. 8, 2008 | Nov. 1, 2013 |
| F2A | Sept. 22, 2026 | Sept. 22, 2026 | Sept. 22, 2026 | Mar. 22, 2026 | Sept. 22, 2026 |
| F2B | Aug. 22, 2019 | Aug. 22, 2019 | Aug. 22, 2019 | May 15, 2010 | Oct. 1, 2013 |
| F3 | Oct. 22, 2014 | Oct. 22, 2014 | Oct. 22, 2014 | July 1, 2001 | July 22, 2006 |
| F4 | Oct. 22, 2011 | Oct. 22, 2011 | Dec. 15, 2006 | Apr. 22, 2001 | May 15, 2008 |
F1 covers unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. F2A generally covers spouses and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents, while F2B covers unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents.
F3 applies to married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and F4 covers brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.
These categories are subject to numerical limits, meaning applicants can face substantial waits depending on their priority dates and country of chargeability.
F2A Filing Date Is Current
One of the notable family-based developments is the F2A Dates for Filing chart.
For October, F2A is listed as Current for all countries.
A Current designation means there is no cutoff date for that category under that chart. However, applicants still need to satisfy all applicable immigration requirements.
The Final Action Date remains different. For most countries, the F2A Final Action Date is September 22, 2026, while Mexico has a March 22, 2026 Final Action Date.
This difference illustrates why applicants should not treat a Current filing date as equivalent to immediate green card approval.
Family-Based Dates for Filing
The October Dates for Filing chart contains the following dates:
| Category | All Other Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Feb. 1, 2020 | Feb. 1, 2020 | Feb. 1, 2020 | Dec. 1, 2008 | Apr. 22, 2015 |
| F2A | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| F2B | Sept. 1, 2019 | Sept. 1, 2019 | Sept. 1, 2019 | Mar. 22, 2011 | Oct. 1, 2014 |
| F3 | Nov. 1, 2014 | Nov. 1, 2014 | Nov. 1, 2014 | Dec. 1, 2002 | Oct. 22, 2006 |
| F4 | Nov. 1, 2011 | Nov. 1, 2011 | Feb. 1, 2007 | Apr. 30, 2001 | Mar. 22, 2009 |
Applicants pursuing immigrant visas through consular processing may use these dates to determine when the National Visa Center can begin collecting required documentation, subject to the specific instructions issued in their cases.
Employment-Based Green Card Cutoff Dates
Employment-based categories are receiving considerable attention in October because several dates change as the new fiscal year begins.
The Final Action Dates are:
| Category | All Other Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | July 1, 2023 | Feb. 1, 2023 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Oct. 1, 2021 | Nov. 1, 2013 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2025 |
| EB-3 | May 15, 2024 | Jan. 8, 2022 | Jan. 1, 2014 | May 15, 2024 | Aug. 15, 2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Jan. 1, 2022 | Oct. 1, 2019 | Jan. 1, 2014 | Jan. 1, 2022 | Jan. 1, 2022 |
| EB-4 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 |
| Certain Religious Workers | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | Dec. 1, 2016 | Dec. 1, 2023 | Current | Current |
The EB-1 category covers certain priority workers, including qualifying individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational executives and managers.
EB-2 generally covers professionals with advanced degrees and people with exceptional ability.
EB-3 includes skilled workers, professionals and certain other workers.
EB-2 India Is Available Again
The EB-2 India category is one of the most closely watched parts of the October bulletin.
The October Final Action Date for EB-2 India is November 1, 2013.
The category had become unavailable during the final months of Fiscal Year 2026. The return of an October cutoff reflects the availability of new Fiscal Year 2027 visa numbers.
Applicants with older priority dates should carefully compare their dates with the new cutoff. However, reaching the cutoff does not by itself guarantee approval because other eligibility and processing requirements continue to apply.
The October Dates for Filing cutoff for EB-2 India is January 15, 2015, providing a separate filing window that is ahead of the Final Action Date.
China Sees Important Employment-Based Movement
China also receives substantial movement in the new fiscal year.
For EB-1 China, the October Final Action Date is July 1, 2023, while the Dates for Filing date is July 1, 2024.
EB-2 China has a Final Action Date of October 1, 2021, with a Dates for Filing cutoff of January 1, 2023.
For EB-3 China, the Final Action Date is January 8, 2022, and the Dates for Filing date is April 1, 2024.
These differences demonstrate why applicants should review both charts when determining whether a case may be ready for the next stage.
EB-3 India Remains Closely Watched
The October EB-3 Final Action Date for India is January 1, 2014.
The Dates for Filing cutoff is January 15, 2015.
This creates a meaningful difference between the date for filing and the date for final action.
An eligible applicant whose priority date falls within the filing window may be able to take action before the priority date becomes current for final approval, depending on the applicable USCIS filing rules.
EB-5 Availability in October
The EB-5 program also has several different categories.
For October, the EB-5 Unreserved category is Current for all countries except China and India.
The Final Action Date is:
- China: December 1, 2016
- India: December 1, 2023
- All other countries: Current
- Mexico: Current
- Philippines: Current
The EB-5 reserved categories are Current across the listed countries.
Those set-aside categories include rural projects, high-unemployment-area projects and infrastructure projects.
Applicants should determine whether their cases fall into the unreserved or reserved portion of EB-5 before relying on a particular cutoff date.
Employment-Based Dates for Filing in October
The October Dates for Filing chart is particularly important for people preparing adjustment-of-status applications.
| Category | All Other Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | July 1, 2024 | July 1, 2024 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Mar. 15, 2026 | Jan. 1, 2023 | Jan. 15, 2015 | Mar. 15, 2026 | Mar. 15, 2026 |
| EB-3 | Aug. 1, 2024 | Apr. 1, 2024 | Jan. 15, 2015 | Aug. 1, 2024 | Jan. 1, 2024 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | June 1, 2022 | Oct. 1, 2020 | Jan. 15, 2015 | June 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 |
| EB-4 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2025 |
| Certain Religious Workers | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2025 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | Mar. 1, 2021 | May 1, 2024 | Current | Current |
The EB-5 rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure set-aside categories remain Current across these chargeability areas.
USCIS Filing Rules Matter for Adjustment of Status
A Visa Bulletin cutoff date does not automatically tell every applicant that Form I-485 can be filed.
People applying for adjustment of status in the United States must check the USCIS determination for the applicable month.
For October 2026, employment-based applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart for adjustment-of-status filing purposes.
That distinction is important for applicants whose priority dates are not yet current under the Final Action Dates chart.
For example, an Indian applicant in EB-2 with a priority date before January 15, 2015 may fall within the October filing window, while final approval remains governed by the November 1, 2013 Final Action Date.
Applicants should also remember that filing eligibility and final approval are separate steps.
Why Visa Bulletin Dates Can Move Backward
Visa Bulletin movement is not guaranteed to continue in one direction.
The government must keep immigrant visa issuances within annual statutory limits. Demand can also vary among countries and categories.
The October bulletin specifically states that some employment-based categories for the rest of the world have retrogressed to keep visa issuances within Fiscal Year 2027 quarterly and annual limits.
This means applicants should avoid assuming that a cutoff date shown in October will remain unchanged in November or later months.
A future bulletin could advance a date, leave it unchanged or move it backward depending on demand and available visa numbers.
Religious Worker Category Gets a Temporary Extension
Another important development concerns the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers category.
Legislation signed on September 2, 2026, extends the category through December 11, 2026.
For October, the category follows the same cutoff dates as the regular EB-4 category for the applicable country.
The temporary nature of the extension means applicants in this category should continue watching for future legislative action and subsequent immigration updates.
How Applicants Can Check Their Status
Applicants can follow several basic steps when reviewing the October bulletin.
First, locate the priority date on the relevant immigration documentation.
Next, identify the exact preference category, such as F1, F2A, EB-2 or EB-3.
The applicant should then identify the appropriate country of chargeability. The Visa Bulletin provides separate columns for China, India, Mexico and the Philippines because these countries have significant demand in several preference categories.
Finally, compare the priority date with the correct chart.
Applicants inside the United States should also verify the USCIS filing-chart determination before submitting Form I-485.
What the October Bulletin Means for Applicants
The latest state department october 2026 visa bulletin gives applicants a new starting point for Fiscal Year 2027 but does not establish how cutoff dates will move throughout the year.
The most notable employment-based changes include renewed EB-2 availability for India, movement across several China categories and new filing opportunities for applicants whose priority dates fall within the October Dates for Filing windows.
Family-sponsored applicants also receive updated dates, with F2A listed as Current on the Dates for Filing chart.
For anyone tracking a green card case, the most important information remains the combination of priority date, preference category and country of chargeability. Looking at only one of these factors can produce an inaccurate picture of eligibility.
Applicants should continue checking each monthly bulletin and USCIS instructions because visa availability can change as demand develops during the fiscal year.
Stay informed on the latest green card cutoff dates and share your October 2026 Visa Bulletin experience in the comments below.