The State Department’s October 2026 Visa BulletinA monthly State Department publication showing which family and employment visa categories currently have visas available.See it in the glossary, the first of fiscal year 2027, moves employment-based green card cutoffs in two directions. EB-2 and EB-3 fall back for most countries, while India’s EB-2 and unreserved EB-5 categories reopen after being listed as unavailable in September.
The October 2026 bulletin, Number 19 of Volume XI, appeared with the new fiscal year days away, after a delay that the department did not explain. Its printed date is September 4, the cutoff for the demand data behind it. The department says the RetrogressionWhen a Visa Bulletin cutoff date moves backward, usually because demand exceeded the numbers available for that category.See it in the glossary are needed to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits.
Employment-based final action dates: what moved
The Final Action Dates chart shows when a visa number can be issued or an Adjustment of statusThe process of applying for a green card from within the United States, rather than through a consulate abroad. Filed on Form I-485.See it in the glossary approved. Numbers are authorized only for applicants whose Priority dateThe date a petition was filed, or a labor certification was submitted, used to determine an applicant's place in line for a visa category with limited annual numbers.See it in the glossary is earlier than the date listed.
| Category and area | September | October | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 India | Oct 15, 2022 | Feb 1, 2023 | Up 3 months 17 days |
| EB-2 India | Unavailable | Nov 1, 2013 | Reopens |
| EB-2 China | Sep 1, 2021 | Oct 1, 2021 | Up 1 month |
| EB-2 (all other areas, Mexico, Philippines) | Current | Jan 1, 2025 | Falls back |
| EB-3 (all other areas, Mexico) | Sep 1, 2024 | May 15, 2024 | Back 3 months 17 days |
| EB-3 China | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 8, 2022 | Up 7 days |
| EB-5 unreserved India | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2023 | Reopens |
| EB-4 (all areas) | Dec 15, 2022 | Dec 15, 2022 | No change |
EB-1 stays current for all other areas, Mexico and the Philippines, and EB-1 China holds at July 1, 2023. Unreserved EB-5 remains current for most countries, and China stays at December 1, 2016.
The Dates for Filing chart moved further
On the Dates for FilingThe Visa Bulletin chart showing the earliest priority dates for which applicants may submit documents, or in some months file for adjustment of status, ahead of a visa number being available.See it in the glossary chart, EB-1 for China and India advanced seven months to July 1, 2024. EB-2 China advanced a year to January 1, 2023, while India stayed at January 15, 2015. EB-3 China advanced more than two years, to April 1, 2024, and India held. EB-4 advanced two years, to January 1, 2025, in every area.
The same chart moved the other way for most countries: EB-2 went from current to March 15, 2026, and EB-3 from current to August 1, 2024. Separate reports cover the EB-2 and EB-3 retrogression, the China jump and the India reopening.
Which chart USCIS accepts
USCIS decides each month which chart green card applicants use to file. For October, its filing charts page points applicants to the Dates for Filing chart. A filing date lets an applicant submit an application. It does not mean a visa number is available. Our report on the switch lays out the difference.
Family-sponsored categories
F2A advanced one month to September 22, 2026 for every area except Mexico, which moved seven months to March 22, 2026. Most other family final action dates held for all other areas, China and India, and the movement centered on Mexico and the Philippines. See the family-based report.
Annual limits and one extension
The bulletin lists the worldwide employment-based level for FY 2027 as at least 140,000 and the Per-country limitThe cap, set at 7 percent of the combined family and employment totals, on how many preference visas may go to natives of any single country in a fiscal year.See it in the glossary as 25,620. The September bulletin listed 186,317 and 28,862 for fiscal year 2026. The October bulletin also says H.R. 6500, signed September 2, 2026, extends the Certain Religious Workers category through December 11, 2026.
The department says it is monitoring the situation continually and will adjust dates as needed. For how the previous month moved, see the September analysis.