Visa bulletin for October 2026: what changed

18 final action dates moved forward and 3 moved back compared with September 2026.

  • EB-2 (all countries): Current → January 1, 2025 (no longer current)
  • EB-2 India: Unavailable → November 1, 2013 (available again)
  • EB-5 India: Unavailable → December 1, 2023 (available again)
  • F2B Mexico: February 15, 2009 → May 15, 2010 (advanced 1 year, 3 months)
  • F4 Philippines: August 22, 2007 → May 15, 2008 (advanced 9 months)
  • F1 Mexico: January 1, 2008 → September 8, 2008 (advanced 8 months)
  • EB-3 (all countries): September 1, 2024 → May 15, 2024 (retrogressed 4 months)
  • F2A Mexico: August 22, 2025 → March 22, 2026 (advanced 7 months)

Source: Visa Bulletin for October 2026 (U.S. Department of State). Read from the official PDF of this bulletin. · Checked October 14, 2026. Always confirm with the official bulletin and USCIS. Independent site. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, USCIS or any government agency.

Dates are written as in the bulletin (22AUG25 = August 22, 2025). C = current, U = unavailable. ▲ moved forward and ▼ moved back since the previous bulletin; no symbol = no change.

Family-sponsored

For adjustment of status inside the U.S. in October 2026, USCIS says to use the dates for filing chart for family-based cases.

Family-sponsored: final action date · October 2026
CategoryAll countriesChina (mainland-born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
F122JAN2022JAN2022JAN2008SEP08Advanced 8 months01NOV13Advanced 6 months
F2A22SEP26Advanced 1 month22SEP26Advanced 1 month22SEP26Advanced 1 month22MAR26Advanced 7 months22SEP26Advanced 1 month
F2B22AUG1922AUG1922AUG1915MAY10Advanced 1 year, 3 months01OCT13Advanced 4 months
F322OCT1422OCT1422OCT1401JUL0122JUL06Advanced 5 months
F422OCT1122OCT1115DEC06Advanced 1 month22APR01Advanced 14 days15MAY08Advanced 9 months

Scroll sideways to see every country →

Family-sponsored: date for filing · October 2026
CategoryAll countriesChina (mainland-born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
F101FEB2001FEB2001FEB2001DEC0822APR15
F2ACCCCC
F2B01SEP1901SEP1901SEP1922MAR11Advanced 10 months01OCT14Advanced 1 year
F301NOV1401NOV1401NOV1401DEC02Advanced 1 year, 5 months22OCT06Advanced 2 months
F401NOV1101NOV1101FEB07Advanced 2 months30APR0122MAR09Advanced 1 year

Scroll sideways to see every country →

Employment-based

For adjustment of status inside the U.S. in October 2026, USCIS says to use the dates for filing chart for employment-based cases.

Employment-based: final action date · October 2026
CategoryAll countriesChina (mainland-born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1C01JUL2301FEB23Advanced 4 monthsCC
EB-201JAN25No longer current01OCT21Advanced 1 month01NOV13Available again01JAN25No longer current01JAN25No longer current
EB-315MAY24Retrogressed 4 months08JAN22Advanced 7 days01JAN1415MAY24Retrogressed 4 months15AUG23Advanced 14 days
EB-3 Other Workers01JAN22Retrogressed 3 months01OCT19Advanced 5 months01JAN1401JAN22Retrogressed 3 months01JAN22Advanced 1 month
EB-415DEC2215DEC2215DEC2215DEC2215DEC22
EB-4 Certain Religious Workers15DEC2215DEC2215DEC2215DEC2215DEC22
EB-5C01DEC1601DEC23Available againCC
EB-5 set-aside: rural (20%)CCCCC
EB-5 set-aside: high unemployment (10%)CCCCC
EB-5 set-aside: infrastructure (2%)CCCCC

Scroll sideways to see every country →

Employment-based: date for filing · October 2026
CategoryAll countriesChina (mainland-born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1C01JUL24Advanced 7 months01JUL24Advanced 7 monthsCC
EB-215MAR26No longer current01JAN23Advanced 1 year15JAN1515MAR26No longer current15MAR26No longer current
EB-301AUG24No longer current01APR24Advanced 2 years, 3 months15JAN1501AUG24No longer current01JAN24
EB-3 Other Workers01JUN22Retrogressed 2 months01OCT20Advanced 1 year15JAN1501JUN22Retrogressed 2 months01JUN22Retrogressed 2 months
EB-401JAN25Advanced 2 years01JAN25Advanced 2 years01JAN25Advanced 2 years01JAN25Advanced 2 years01JAN25Advanced 2 years
EB-4 Certain Religious Workers01JAN25Advanced 2 years01JAN25Advanced 2 years01JAN25Advanced 2 years01JAN25Advanced 2 years01JAN25Advanced 2 years
EB-5C01MAR21Advanced 4 years01MAY24CC
EB-5 set-aside: rural (20%)CCCCC
EB-5 set-aside: high unemployment (10%)CCCCC
EB-5 set-aside: infrastructure (2%)CCCCC

Scroll sideways to see every country →

What the State Department says

Official notes published with the bulletin, quoted as written. They describe what the State Department expects, not a guarantee.

Availability of Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based Visas for FY 2027

With the availability of FY 2027 immigrant visa numbers, dates for filing and final action dates have advanced across various immigrant visa categories. However, some employment-based visa categories for "Rest of World" countries have retrogressed, and these retrogressions are necessary to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits. This situation is being continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

Extension of the Employment Fourth Religious Workers (SR) Category

H.R. 6500, signed on September 2, 2026, extends the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category through December 11, 2026. The SR category is subject to the same dates for filing and final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.