Visa bulletin october 2026 predictions are drawing close attention as the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2026. The official October bulletin has not been released yet, so no October cutoff dates are final. However, the September 2026 bulletin and recent Department of State announcements provide important clues about what applicants may see next.
The biggest development involves EB-2 India, which became unavailable after the government exhausted its FY2026 allocation. The Department of State has said new numbers will become available when Fiscal Year 2027 begins and indicated that the EB-2 India Final Action Date is likely to advance to at least the date published in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin.
That May cutoff was July 15, 2014.
Other employment-based categories could also move in October, but the extent of that movement remains uncertain. Applicants should therefore treat private forecasts as estimates until the government publishes the official bulletin.
October 2026 Visa Bulletin Has Not Been Published Yet
The U.S. Department of State currently lists September 2026 as the latest Visa Bulletin, with the October edition marked as coming soon.
That means any website already displaying a specific October cutoff is presenting a prediction rather than an official government date.
The timing matters because October is the first month of Fiscal Year 2027. New annual immigrant visa numbers become available at the start of the fiscal year, which can change categories that became unavailable or heavily restricted near the end of FY2026.
For applicants, the safest approach is to use current predictions to understand possible scenarios while waiting for the official October charts.
Why October 2026 Could Be a Major Turning Point
Visa Bulletin movement often changes when a new fiscal year begins.
During FY2026, the government faced significant demand in several employment-based categories. Some categories advanced earlier in the year, while others later experienced retrogression or became unavailable after their annual allocations were reached.
The September 2026 bulletin shows the result of that pressure. EB-2 India is listed as unavailable, while EB-5 unreserved India is also unavailable. EB-1 India has a Final Action Date of October 15, 2022, and EB-3 India stands at January 1, 2014.
The new fiscal year does not eliminate the underlying backlog. Instead, it provides new visa numbers that allow the Department of State to resume allocating numbers in categories that exhausted their FY2026 supply.
That distinction is important when evaluating visa bulletin october 2026 predictions.
EB-2 India Has the Strongest October Signal
EB-2 India is the category attracting the most attention.
The Department of State announced in May that all available FY2026 EB-2 immigrant visas for applicants chargeable to India had been used. As a result, embassies and consulates could not issue additional EB-2 India immigrant visas during the remainder of FY2026.
The government also confirmed that the annual limits reset on October 1, 2026, when FY2027 begins.
More importantly, the State Department indicated that the EB-2 India Final Action Date is likely to advance in October to at least the Final Action Date announced in May.
The May 2026 bulletin listed July 15, 2014 as the EB-2 India Final Action Date.
This gives EB-2 India applicants a much stronger basis for an October outlook than categories where only private forecasts are available.
Still, July 15, 2014 should not be described as the official October cutoff. The government specifically tied the eventual date to demand for EB-2 numbers from Indian applicants and the FY2027 employment-based annual limit.
Therefore, the most defensible prediction is that EB-2 India should return from unavailable status in October and could advance to at least the July 15, 2014 benchmark indicated by the government.
What EB-2 India Applicants Should Watch
Applicants with EB-2 India priority dates should pay particular attention to two separate dates in the October bulletin.
The first is the Final Action Date. This determines whether an immigrant visa number is available for final approval.
The second is the Dates for Filing chart. This can become important for applicants who are eligible to file adjustment-of-status applications when USCIS authorizes use of that chart.
The September 2026 bulletin lists an EB-2 India Dates for Filing date of January 15, 2015. Whether October changes that date remains unknown until the new bulletin is published.
Applicants should not assume that a favorable Dates for Filing change automatically means a green card can be approved. The two charts serve different purposes.
EB-3 India Could Advance in October
EB-3 India enters October with a September Final Action Date of January 1, 2014.
Unlike EB-2 India, EB-3 India is not listed as unavailable in September. That makes its October outlook less dependent on reopening an exhausted category.
Several private forecasting models expect some forward movement in EB-3 India when FY2027 begins. One current model projects a Final Action Date around April 3, 2014, while another forecast takes a more conservative approach.
Those estimates should not be treated as official.
The underlying reason for optimism is the arrival of new fiscal-year numbers. However, demand can quickly affect how far the Department of State moves the cutoff.
For that reason, EB-3 India applicants should prepare for possible advancement while avoiding reliance on any single predicted date.
EB-1 India Remains an Important Category
EB-1 India also deserves close attention in the October bulletin.
The September Final Action Date is October 15, 2022. The category experienced pressure during FY2026, and its movement will depend on the availability of new FY2027 numbers and the level of demand.
Private forecasts generally expect some recovery or movement, but the estimates differ.
There is no government announcement establishing a specific October EB-1 India cutoff. Therefore, predictions should be viewed as possible scenarios rather than confirmed outcomes.
Applicants with priority dates close to the current EB-1 India cutoff should check the October bulletin as soon as it is published.
EB-2 China May See More Limited Movement
EB-2 China has a September 2026 Final Action Date of September 1, 2021.
The category remains backlogged, so the start of FY2027 does not automatically mean a large advancement.
Current forecasting models generally point toward modest movement rather than a dramatic jump. One current model projects a date around September 12, 2021, while other forecasts expect little or no change.
The disagreement illustrates why October predictions should be treated cautiously.
A small movement could still help applicants with priority dates close to the cutoff, but there is currently no official basis for promising a specific October EB-2 China date.
EB-3 China Could Also Move
EB-3 China enters October with a September Final Action Date of January 1, 2022.
Some forecasting models expect movement during October, with one current projection placing the cutoff around March 2022.
That would represent meaningful progress for applicants whose priority dates fall between the existing cutoff and the projected date.
However, the final number will depend on actual demand and visa availability. Applicants should therefore regard the projected March 2022 date as a forecast, not a government announcement.
EB-5 India Is Another Category to Watch
EB-5 unreserved India also reached its FY2026 allocation.
The Department of State announced in June that all available FY2026 EB-5 unreserved immigrant visas for India had been used. The government confirmed that the annual limits would reset on October 1, 2026.
Before becoming unavailable, EB-5 unreserved India had a Final Action Date of May 1, 2022 in the June 2026 bulletin.
That provides a useful historical reference point for October, but it does not establish the new cutoff.
The October date could return near the previous level or differ substantially depending on demand and the number of available FY2027 visas.
Family-Based Visa Bulletin Predictions for October
Employment-based categories are likely to dominate attention, but family-sponsored applicants will also be watching the October bulletin.
The September 2026 bulletin showed significant movement in several family-sponsored categories. F2A, which covers certain spouses and children of lawful permanent residents, has a Final Action Date of August 22, 2026 for most countries and India.
Other categories remain considerably more backlogged.
Private October forecasts vary. Some predict little change, while others anticipate modest adjustments in F1, F2B, F3 and F4.
September’s advances should not automatically be interpreted as a trend that will continue through October. Visa demand and annual allocation management can change the direction of the charts.
The official October bulletin will therefore be more important than any preliminary forecast.
Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Are Not the Same
One of the most important details for Visa Bulletin readers is understanding the difference between the two employment-based charts.
A Final Action Date generally determines when a case can receive final immigrant visa action based on visa-number availability.
A Dates for Filing date indicates when certain applicants may begin submitting required documentation or, when USCIS authorizes that chart for adjustment of status, potentially file Form I-485.
The September bulletin specifically states that adjustment-of-status applicants should check USCIS instructions to determine which chart applies.
This means an applicant should never look only at the Visa Bulletin and assume that a filing date automatically permits an I-485 filing.
The applicable USCIS filing-chart announcement must also be checked.
The Most Important October 2026 Predictions at a Glance
| Category | September 2026 Status | October Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 India | October 15, 2022 | Possible movement, but uncertain |
| EB-2 India | Unavailable | Expected to reopen; government signaled at least July 15, 2014 |
| EB-3 India | January 1, 2014 | Possible forward movement |
| EB-2 China | September 1, 2021 | Modest movement possible |
| EB-3 China | January 1, 2022 | Forward movement possible |
| EB-5 India Unreserved | Unavailable | Expected to reopen after FY2027 begins |
| F2A India | August 22, 2026 | Could remain favorable, but October is unconfirmed |
The table reflects the current September baseline and reasonable forecasts. It does not represent official October 2026 cutoff dates.
What Could Change These Predictions?
Visa Bulletin forecasting remains difficult because the Department of State does not simply move dates according to a fixed monthly schedule.
Several factors can influence the October results:
- The number of applicants with eligible priority dates.
- Demand reported by U.S. consulates and embassies.
- Adjustment-of-status demand handled by USCIS.
- The FY2027 employment-based annual limit.
- Per-country limits and category-specific limits.
- The pace at which applicants use available numbers.
- Changes in government processing or visa issuance patterns.
These variables explain why a prediction can change shortly before the official bulletin appears.
They also explain why applicants should be cautious about forecasts that present an exact date as guaranteed.
What Applicants Should Do Before October 2026
Applicants who expect to benefit from October movement should review their immigration records now rather than waiting for the bulletin.
That includes confirming the priority date, employment-based preference category, country of chargeability and current case status.
Applicants who may become eligible to file Form I-485 should also make sure their supporting documents are ready. However, they should confirm the applicable USCIS filing chart before submitting anything.
Those pursuing consular processing should similarly monitor their case status and required documentation.
Most importantly, applicants should compare their priority date with the official October Final Action and Dates for Filing charts once they are released.
Final Thoughts
The strongest confirmed development behind the visa bulletin october 2026 predictions is the expected reopening of categories that exhausted their FY2026 allocations when the new fiscal year begins on October 1.
EB-2 India has the clearest government-backed outlook. The State Department has indicated that its October Final Action Date is likely to advance to at least the July 15, 2014 benchmark from May, although the final cutoff will depend on demand and the FY2027 visa supply.
EB-3 India, EB-1 India, EB-2 China, EB-3 China and EB-5 India could also move, but their exact October outcomes remain uncertain.
Until the official bulletin is published, predictions should be used as planning information rather than filing instructions. The government’s October charts and USCIS filing guidance will ultimately determine which applicants can move forward.
Have a priority date you are watching for October? Share your category and country in the comments, and stay updated as the official Visa Bulletin is released.