October 2026 U.S. Visa Bulletin: Green Card Dates, EB-2 and EB-3 Backlogs, India, China and Family Sponsorship Explained
The new U.S. fiscal year brought fresh visa numbers — but not a fresh start for everyone. October 2026 delivered important changes across family-sponsored and employment-based Green Card categories, including significant movement in some family queues and new cut-off dates for employment-based applicants. Here is what changed, who benefited, and what the October Visa Bulletin actually meant for people waiting for U.S. permanent residence.
Immigrants.live Analysis | October 2026
Review period: October 1–31, 2026
Primary sources: U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Status: Historical monthly analysis. October cut-off dates are not the dates to use for a November 2026 filing or visa decision.
October 2026 Visa Bulletin: The Biggest Changes at a Glance
October marked the beginning of Fiscal Year 2027, bringing a new annual allocation of immigrant visa numbers. But the new fiscal year did not eliminate existing backlogs.
The most important developments were:
EB-2: The Final Action Date for most countries moved from Current in September to January 1, 2025, in October. This was a significant change for applicants outside India and China.
EB-3: The Final Action Date for most countries moved backward from September 1, 2024, to May 15, 2024.
India: EB-2 remained heavily backlogged, with a Final Action Date of November 1, 2013.
China: EB-2 stood at October 1, 2021, while EB-3 reached January 8, 2022.
Philippines: Several family-sponsored categories advanced, including F4, which moved from August 22, 2007, to May 15, 2008.
F2A: The Final Action Date advanced to September 22, 2026, for most countries, while Mexico had a separate cutoff of March 22, 2026.
USCIS filing charts: For October, USCIS allowed applicants in all family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories to use the Dates for Filing chart when filing adjustment-of-status applications inside the United States.
The central message is that October was a mixed month. Some family-sponsored applicants saw meaningful progress, while employment-based applicants in several categories faced tighter cut-off dates at the start of FY2027.
The distinction between a date that allows someone to file and a date that allows a Green Card to be approved is especially important this month.
1. Why October Matters: The Start of Fiscal Year 2027
The U.S. government fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30.
That means October 1, 2026, marked the beginning of FY2027 and a new annual allocation cycle for employment-based and family-sponsored immigrant visas.
The annual allocation system is governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act. Preference visas are not issued simply because an application has been approved. When demand exceeds the available number of visas, applicants must wait for their priority dates to become eligible under the applicable Visa Bulletin category and country.
The Department of State publishes monthly cut-off dates to manage that demand.
However, the beginning of a new fiscal year does not mean that every category becomes Current or that all applicants move forward.
In October 2026, the Department of State advanced dates in some categories while introducing or maintaining restrictions in others. It also warned that employment-based retrogressions for certain countries were necessary to keep visa issuance within FY2027 limits.
What this means: A new fiscal year can create opportunities for some applicants, but it does not erase country-specific backlogs or guarantee faster Green Card processing.
2. Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing: The Difference That Can Change Your Next Step
Every Visa Bulletin contains two separate sets of dates.
Confusing them can lead applicants to misunderstand whether they can submit documents, file Form I-485, or receive a Green Card.
Final Action Dates
Final Action Dates indicate when an immigrant visa number is available for final approval.
For applicants processing through a U.S. embassy or consulate, the priority date generally must be earlier than the applicable Final Action Date before an immigrant visa can be issued, assuming all other requirements are met.
For applicants inside the United States, the Final Action Dates chart generally determines when an adjustment-of-status application can reach final approval, subject to the applicable USCIS procedures.
Dates for Filing
Dates for Filing are earlier cut-off dates that can allow applicants to begin the next stage of the process before a visa number is available for final approval.
For consular applicants, this can mean receiving instructions to submit supporting documents to the National Visa Center.
For applicants filing Form I-485 inside the United States, the Dates for Filing chart can be used only when USCIS specifically designates it for that month.
What did USCIS allow in October 2026?
For October 2026, USCIS designated the Dates for Filing charts for both family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories for adjustment-of-status filings.
This was important because an applicant whose priority date was not yet current under Final Action Dates could nevertheless be eligible to submit Form I-485 if the priority date was earlier than the applicable Dates for Filing cutoff and all other filing requirements were satisfied.
But filing does not mean approval.
An applicant may submit Form I-485 and still have to wait until an immigrant visa number becomes available under the Final Action Dates chart before USCIS can approve the application.
Applicants processing through consular channels should follow the Department of State and National Visa Center instructions applicable to their cases.
Important: The USCIS chart selection is monthly. The October designation must not be assumed to apply to November or any later month.
3. Employment-Based Green Cards: EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3
Employment-based immigration remained one of the most important parts of the October 2026 Visa Bulletin.
The biggest story was the change in EB-2 and EB-3 Final Action Dates for applicants from countries outside India and China.
EB-1: Priority Workers
EB-1 covers priority workers, including:
Individuals with extraordinary ability.
Outstanding professors and researchers.
Certain multinational executives and managers.
October Final Action Dates:
Country or region | October 2026 |
Most countries | Current |
China | July 1, 2023 |
India | February 1, 2023 |
Mexico | Current |
Philippines | Current |
For most countries, EB-1 remained Current.
India and China continued to face separate cut-off dates. Applicants from these countries should not assume that an approved I-140 automatically means that a Green Card can be issued immediately.
EB-2: Advanced Degrees and Exceptional Ability
EB-2 covers professionals holding advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability.
It is particularly important for applicants pursuing employer-sponsored immigration through the PERM process or qualifying for a National Interest Waiver.
October Final Action Dates:
Country or region | September 2026 | October 2026 |
Most countries | Current | January 1, 2025 |
China | September 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 |
India | Unavailable | November 1, 2013 |
Mexico | Current | January 1, 2025 |
Philippines | Current | January 1, 2025 |
The biggest change: EB-2 for most countries moved from Current to January 1, 2025.
This was not a routine forward movement. It meant that applicants from countries previously benefiting from Current status now faced a defined priority-date cutoff.
For India, EB-2 became available again with a November 1, 2013, Final Action Date after being listed as unavailable in September. This did not eliminate the backlog: the cutoff remained more than a decade behind the beginning of FY2027.
For China, the date advanced by one month, from September 1 to October 1, 2021.
What EB-2 applicants should understand
An applicant with a priority date before January 1, 2025, in the general category may be within the October Final Action cutoff. An applicant with a later priority date would generally have to wait for the cutoff to advance.
However, applicants inside the United States may have been eligible to file Form I-485 under the October Dates for Filing chart even if their priority dates were not yet current for final approval.
EB-3: Skilled Workers and Professionals
EB-3 includes:
Skilled workers.
Professionals.
Other workers.
It is an important pathway for many employer-sponsored applicants, including people whose qualifications or job offers do not meet EB-2 requirements.
October Final Action Dates:
Country or region | September 2026 | October 2026 |
Most countries | September 1, 2024 | May 15, 2024 |
China | January 1, 2022 | January 8, 2022 |
India | January 1, 2014 | January 1, 2014 |
Mexico | September 1, 2024 | May 15, 2024 |
Philippines | August 1, 2023 | August 15, 2023 |
The general EB-3 cutoff moved backward by several months.
This is known as retrogression.
For applicants from most countries and Mexico, the cutoff moved from September 1, 2024, to May 15, 2024. That meant some applicants who had been within the previous month's Final Action cutoff were no longer within the October cutoff.
China advanced slightly, while India remained unchanged. The Philippines advanced by two weeks.
This is an important reminder that Visa Bulletin dates do not move in a straight line. A category can advance in one month and move backward in another.
EB-3 Other Workers
The Other Workers category is separate from the main EB-3 skilled worker and professional category.
October Final Action Dates:
Country or region | October 2026 |
Most countries | January 1, 2022 |
China | October 1, 2019 |
India | January 1, 2014 |
Mexico | January 1, 2022 |
Philippines | January 1, 2022 |
Applicants should not use the main EB-3 date when checking an Other Workers case. The two categories have different cutoffs.
4. India: EB-2 and EB-3 Applicants Continue to Face Long Backlogs
India remains one of the most heavily backlogged countries in the U.S. employment-based immigration system.
The October 2026 bulletin showed:
Category | Final Action Date |
EB-1 | February 1, 2023 |
EB-2 | November 1, 2013 |
EB-3 | January 1, 2014 |
EB-3 Other Workers | January 1, 2014 |
EB-4 | December 15, 2022 |
EB-5 Unreserved | December 1, 2023 |
The EB-2 cutoff is particularly important.
An Indian applicant with an EB-2 priority date from 2014 or later was not automatically eligible for final approval in October 2026. The applicable date was November 1, 2013.
The EB-3 cutoff was January 1, 2014.
The difference between EB-2 and EB-3 dates does not mean that every applicant should switch categories. Eligibility depends on the underlying job, qualifications, petition, and applicable immigration rules.
Applicants considering an EB-2/EB-3 strategy should obtain case-specific legal advice before changing or restructuring an immigration petition.
5. China: A Different Timeline for Employment-Based Applicants
China also has separate cut-off dates in several employment-based categories.
October 2026 Final Action Dates:
Category | China |
EB-1 | July 1, 2023 |
EB-2 | October 1, 2021 |
EB-3 | January 8, 2022 |
EB-3 Other Workers | October 1, 2019 |
EB-4 | December 15, 2022 |
EB-5 Unreserved | December 1, 2016 |
The EB-2 date advanced by one month compared with September, while EB-3 advanced by one week.
The EB-5 unreserved category remained particularly restrictive for China, with a December 1, 2016, cutoff.
Applicants should also remember that the Visa Bulletin generally uses the applicant's country of chargeability, which is usually the country of birth — not necessarily the country of citizenship or current residence.
Certain cross-chargeability rules may apply to eligible spouses.
6. Philippines: Family Sponsorship and Employment-Based Categories
The Philippines has separate cut-off dates in several family-sponsored and employment-based categories.
This is particularly relevant to Filipino families waiting for brothers, sisters, adult children, and other relatives to immigrate to the United States.
F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
October 2026 F4 Final Action Dates:
Country or region | September 2026 | October 2026 |
Most countries | October 22, 2011 | October 22, 2011 |
China | October 22, 2011 | October 22, 2011 |
India | November 1, 2006 | December 15, 2006 |
Mexico | April 8, 2001 | April 22, 2001 |
Philippines | August 22, 2007 | May 15, 2008 |
The Philippines F4 date advanced by almost nine months.
This was one of the more notable family-sponsored movements in the October bulletin.
However, an advancing cutoff does not mean that all Filipino F4 applicants can now proceed.
A person with a priority date earlier than May 15, 2008, may be within the October Final Action cutoff, subject to all other requirements. Applicants with later priority dates must continue waiting.
Other Filipino Family Categories
October 2026 Final Action Dates:
Category | October 2026 |
F1 | November 1, 2013 |
F2A | September 22, 2026 |
F2B | October 1, 2013 |
F3 | July 22, 2006 |
F4 | May 15, 2008 |
For families waiting for a sibling petition, F4 remains a long-term process. Even substantial monthly movement does not remove the underlying backlog.
7. Family-Sponsored Green Cards: October 2026 Dates
Family-sponsored preference categories cover certain relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
They do not include immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, such as spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of adult U.S. citizens. Immediate-relative visas are not subject to the same annual numerical preference limits.
October 2026 Final Action Dates:
Category | Most countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
F1 | Jan 22, 2020 | Jan 22, 2020 | Jan 22, 2020 | Sep 8, 2008 | Nov 1, 2013 |
F2A | Sep 22, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | Mar 22, 2026 | Sep 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 | Jul 1, 2001 | Jul 22, 2006 |
F4 | Oct 22, 2011 | Oct 22, 2011 | Dec 15, 2006 | Apr 22, 2001 | May 15, 2008 |
What do the family categories mean?
F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
F2A: Spouses and children under 21 of lawful permanent residents.
F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 or older of lawful permanent residents.
F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.
F2A: A Particularly Important October Development
For most countries, the F2A Final Action Date advanced from August 22, 2026, to September 22, 2026.
Mexico had a separate cutoff of March 22, 2026.
F2A is important because it covers spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents.
Although the October date was close to the current calendar month, it did not mean that every F2A applicant could immediately receive a visa. The priority date, country of chargeability, visa availability, and individual case requirements still matter.
8. October 2026 Dates for Filing: The Table Many Applicants Needed
The Dates for Filing chart is particularly important because USCIS allowed it for adjustment-of-status applications in October.
The following tables summarize the October 2026 Dates for Filing cutoffs.
Family-Sponsored Dates for Filing
Category | Most 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 | Sep 1, 2019 | Sep 1, 2019 | Sep 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 |
Employment-Based Dates for Filing
Category | Most countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
EB-1 | Current | Jul 1, 2024 | Jul 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 |
Other Workers | Jun 1, 2022 | Oct 1, 2020 | Jan 15, 2015 | Jun 1, 2022 | Jun 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 |
For EB-5, the October Dates for Filing chart listed the unreserved category as Current for most countries, Mexico, and the Philippines; China had a March 1, 2021, cutoff and India had a May 1, 2024, cutoff. The three reserved categories — Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure — were Current in the chart.
Important: These are October 2026 historical dates. They must not be used to determine eligibility for a filing in November or a later month.
9. EB-4 and EB-5: Special Immigrants and Investors
The October bulletin also included important information for special immigrant and investor categories.
EB-4
The October Final Action Date for EB-4 was December 15, 2022, across the listed countries.
The Dates for Filing cutoff was January 1, 2025.
The Certain Religious Workers (SR) category was also listed with a December 15, 2022, Final Action Date and a January 1, 2025, filing date.
The Department of State noted that the SR category had been extended through December 11, 2026, under legislation signed on September 2, 2026.
Applicants in religious worker categories should pay attention to the statutory expiration date and any subsequent legislative extension. A Visa Bulletin date alone does not guarantee that the underlying category will remain authorized indefinitely.
EB-5
The EB-5 investor category is divided into:
Unreserved visas.
Rural set-aside visas.
High Unemployment Area set-aside visas.
Infrastructure set-aside visas.
In October, the Final Action Dates chart showed:
EB-5 category | Most countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
Unreserved | Current | Dec 1, 2016 | Dec 1, 2023 | Current | Current |
Rural | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
High Unemployment | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
Infrastructure | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
For applicants considering EB-5, the availability of a visa number is only one part of the process. Investment eligibility, source-of-funds documentation, job creation requirements, petition adjudication, and other legal requirements remain essential.
10. Why Did Some Dates Move Backward?
One of the most important messages in the October 2026 bulletin was that some employment-based cutoffs had to move backward.
The Department of State explained that the retrogressions were necessary to keep visa issuances within FY2027 quarterly and annual limits.
This is a key point for applicants who assume that a new fiscal year always produces faster processing.
Visa numbers are limited. The government must manage demand across categories and countries. If demand is higher than expected, dates may stop advancing or move backward.
This is known as retrogression.
Retrogression does not automatically mean that an approved petition has been cancelled or that an applicant has lost their place in the queue. It means that the relevant visa number is not currently available for final action under the new cutoff.
Applicants who have already filed Form I-485 should review their case status and any USCIS notices carefully. A change in the Visa Bulletin does not by itself determine every procedural consequence for an individual case.
11. What Should Green Card Applicants Do After the October Bulletin?
The practical next step depends on the type of case and where the applicant is processing.
If you are waiting for an employment-based Green Card
Confirm your preference category: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-3 Other Workers, EB-4, or EB-5.
Confirm your country of chargeability. It is generally based on country of birth, not simply citizenship.
Find the priority date on your immigration petition.
Compare it with both the Final Action Date and Dates for Filing.
If you are inside the United States, check which chart USCIS has designated for the relevant month.
If you are eligible to file Form I-485, review all filing requirements before submitting it.
If you are waiting for family sponsorship
Confirm the correct family preference category.
Check whether the petitioner is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Verify the beneficiary's relationship and age-related eligibility.
Compare the priority date with the correct country-specific cutoff.
Follow National Visa Center instructions if your case is being processed through a U.S. consulate.
If you are a Filipino applicant waiting in F4
Pay particular attention to the May 15, 2008, October Final Action Date and the March 22, 2009, Dates for Filing cutoff.
These are different milestones. A case eligible to begin document submission is not necessarily ready for final visa issuance.
If you are an Indian applicant in EB-2 or EB-3
Do not rely on general worldwide dates. India has its own cutoffs.
For October 2026, the relevant Final Action Dates were November 1, 2013, for EB-2 and January 1, 2014, for EB-3.
The Dates for Filing chart used different dates, so applicants inside the United States needed to check both the applicable category and USCIS chart selection.
12. What to Watch After October 2026
October opened FY2027, but it did not establish how the rest of the fiscal year would develop.
The Department of State specifically noted that some employment-based categories had retrogressed to keep visa issuance within FY2027 limits and that the situation would continue to be monitored.
Applicants should watch for:
Whether EB-2 and EB-3 cutoffs for most countries advance, remain unchanged, or retrogress further.
Whether India and China see meaningful movement in employment-based categories.
Whether the Philippines F4 category continues to advance.
Whether F2A remains close to current for most countries.
Whether USCIS continues to select Dates for Filing or returns to Final Action Dates for adjustment-of-status filings.
Whether annual visa limits or category-specific demand cause additional restrictions.
The November 2026 Visa Bulletin must be checked separately. October dates should not be carried forward automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the EB-2 Final Action Date for India in October 2026?
The EB-2 Final Action Date for India was November 1, 2013. Applicants with later priority dates were not eligible for final visa issuance under that cutoff.
2. What was the EB-2 date for most countries?
The October 2026 EB-2 Final Action Date for most countries was January 1, 2025. This represented a change from Current status in September.
3. What was the EB-3 date for most countries in October 2026?
The EB-3 Final Action Date for most countries was May 15, 2024. It had moved backward from September 1, 2024, in the September bulletin.
4. What was the F4 priority date for the Philippines?
The October 2026 F4 Final Action Date for the Philippines was May 15, 2008. The Dates for Filing cutoff was March 22, 2009.
5. Could applicants file Form I-485 using Dates for Filing in October 2026?
Yes. USCIS designated the Dates for Filing charts for both family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories for October 2026. Applicants still had to meet all other adjustment-of-status requirements.
6. Does a current Dates for Filing date mean that a Green Card will be approved immediately?
No. Dates for Filing may allow an applicant to submit documents or file Form I-485, but final approval generally requires an immigrant visa number to be available under the applicable Final Action Date and satisfaction of all other requirements.
7. Can a Visa Bulletin date move backward?
Yes. This is called retrogression. It can happen when demand for immigrant visas exceeds the number available in a category or country.
8. Does my country of citizenship determine my Visa Bulletin category?
Not necessarily. The relevant concept is country of chargeability, which is generally based on country of birth. Certain exceptions, including cross-chargeability through a spouse, may apply.
9. Does an approved I-140 mean that I can receive my Green Card?
Not automatically. An approved I-140 establishes an approved employment-based immigrant petition, but visa availability, priority date, adjustment-of-status or consular requirements, and other eligibility conditions still matter.
10. Can I use October 2026 dates to file in November?
No. Visa Bulletin dates and USCIS chart selections are month-specific. Applicants must check the November 2026 bulletin and the corresponding USCIS filing-chart announcement before taking action.
The Bottom Line: October Was a Mixed Start to FY2027
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin delivered progress for some family-sponsored applicants, including Filipino F4 cases and several Mexico family categories. F2A also moved forward for most countries.
But the employment-based picture was more complicated.
EB-2 for most countries moved from Current to January 1, 2025, while EB-3 moved backward to May 15, 2024. India and China continued to face substantial country-specific backlogs.
The most important practical detail was USCIS's decision to allow Dates for Filing for all family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories in October. That gave some applicants an opportunity to file before their priority dates became current for final approval.
For anyone waiting for a U.S. Green Card, the lesson is simple: do not look at one date in isolation. Check your category, country of chargeability, priority date, the correct chart, and the rules that apply to your particular stage of processing.
A few days of movement in the Visa Bulletin can matter. But understanding which date applies to your case matters even more.
Editorial Disclaimer: This article is an informational analysis of the October 2026 Visa Bulletin. It is not legal advice and does not replace an individualized review by a qualified U.S. immigration attorney. Visa availability and filing-chart designations change monthly. Always verify the latest Department of State Visa Bulletin and USCIS instructions before filing an application or making an immigration decision.
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