October 2026 Visa Bulletin: Important Filing Window, Cautious FY 2027 Start

VisaNation’s legal team provides timely updates on the latest USCIS visa bulletin, analyzes movements in filing and final action dates, and predicts upcoming movements in priority dates. This month, we’ll go over the October 2026 visa bulletin.

For more information on how to read the bulletin, scroll to the bottom of the post or view the Table of Contents.

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October 2026 Visa Bulletin: Overview

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin opens fiscal year 2027 with an important filing opportunity, but not with the broad Final Action Date advances many applicants expected. USCIS has confirmed that adjustment applicants may use the Dates for Filing charts for both employment-based and family-sponsored cases in October. That is particularly significant for employment-based applicants because USCIS had required the Final Action Dates chart from May through September 2026.

The filing chart creates a real opportunity to submit Form I-485 applications. But the Final Action Dates chart, which controls approvals and immigrant visa issuance, is notably restrained. Several Rest of World employment-based categories have retrogressed from September. A priority date must be earlier than the applicable listed date.

What the October Charts Mean

EB-1

EB-1 remains Current for Rest of World, Mexico, and the Philippines. EB-1 India advances three and a half months to February 1, 2023 for final action, while EB-1 China remains at July 1, 2023. The filing cutoffs for both India and China advance to July 1, 2024, allowing many EB-1A, EB-1B, and EB-1C beneficiaries to file their adjustment applications in October.

EB-2

The most notable development is the reopening of EB-2 India. The category is now approvable for priority dates before November 1, 2013, and it is open for filing for priority dates before January 15, 2015. EB-3 India remains at January 1, 2014 for final action. For an EB-2 India beneficiary with a priority date between November 1, 2013 and January 1, 2014, an EB-3 downgrade may be worth individualized review.

For Rest of World, Mexico, and the Philippines, EB-2 final action retrogresses to January 1, 2025. Yet the filing cutoff is March 15, 2026. This gives many NIW and PERM-based EB-2 applicants with priority dates before that date an October opportunity to file Form I-485, provided they meet all other adjustment requirements.

EB-3

EB-3 final action for Rest of World and Mexico retrogresses to May 15, 2024. EB-3 India is unchanged at January 1, 2014, and EB-3 Philippines advances to August 15, 2023. For Rest of World beneficiaries, EB-2 remains ahead of EB-3, so an EB-3 downgrade generally does not create a filing or approval advantage.

EB-4 and Religious Workers

EB-4 remains at December 15, 2022 for final action across all countries, while the filing cutoff moves to January 1, 2025. The certain religious worker program is currently extended through December 11, 2026. Religious worker cases should be filed and adjudicated with that statutory deadline in mind unless Congress extends the program again.

EB-5

EB-5 unreserved India reopens at December 1, 2023 for final action, with a filing cutoff of May 1, 2024. EB-5 unreserved China remains at December 1, 2016 for final action and moves to March 1, 2021 for filing. The rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure set-aside categories remain Current for all countries.

Which Chart Applies to I-485 Filings in October?

USCIS has designated the Dates for Filing chart, also called Chart B, for both family-sponsored and employment-based adjustment filings in October 2026. Applicants who are in the United States, have an approved or concurrently filed immigrant petition where permitted, and are otherwise eligible to adjust status may file Form I-485 when their priority date is earlier than the applicable Chart B cutoff.

The Final Action Dates chart, or Chart A, controls when USCIS may approve the green card application and when a consulate may issue an immigrant visa.

Employment-Based Green Cards

With five different preference levels and seven chargeability areas, USCIS issues employment-based category visas through your job or occupation. The chargeability areas are China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador), Vietnam, and the general category.

Employment-Based Dates: Final Action Dates

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the filing date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

Employment-Based Dates for Filing Chart

The following table highlights the October employment-based dates most relevant to adjustment applicants. “Current” means there is no cutoff date for the category.

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the final action date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

What Clients Should Do Now

• Confirm the priority date and country of chargeability before preparing a filing package.
• If your date is current under the October filing chart, move promptly. Gather civil documents, obtain the immigration medical examination, and confirm that the petition, job offer, and sponsoring entity remain consistent with the proposed adjustment filing.
• Include eligible derivatives, particularly children approaching age 21. USCIS uses the chart designated for filing to determine visa availability for Child Status Protection Act purposes.
• A pending I-140 can support concurrent filing where the category is open and the petition was properly filed. A newly filed I-140 receives its own filing-date priority date, so concurrent filing is generally available only if the relevant category is Current.
• Continue maintaining valid nonimmigrant status where possible. H-1B and L-1 workers may generally continue to travel using that status, while other applicants should obtain individual travel advice before leaving the United States after filing Form I-485.
• For pending I-485 cases now current for final action, confirm that required biometrics, medical evidence, and responses to USCIS requests have been completed.

This analysis is general information, not legal advice. Contact our office to discuss your specific case.

Questions about your Case?

Visa bulletin movement affects every case differently depending on your category, country of chargeability, and priority date. If you are unsure whether you can file now – or how to position your case for October – contact VisaNation Law Group to review your options before the window moves.

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Adjustment of Status (AOS) Filing Guidance

For Adjustment of Status (AOS) filings, USCIS has confirmed:

• Family-sponsored categories: You must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for October 2026.
• Employment-based categories:  You must use the Final Action Dates chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for October 2026.

Final Action vs. Filing Dates:

It’s important to differentiate between the final action dates (when a visa can be issued) and the filing dates (when an application can be submitted). This will help applicants understand their current status and next steps.

The Final Action Dates chart determines when an I-485 adjustment of status application can be approved (adjudicated) and your green card issued, while the Dates for Filing Chart determines when you can submit your I-485 Adjustment of Status application.

Here is why this distinction is critical for our clients:

For individuals with a pending Adjustment of Status (AOS) application, we stress that their priority date must be current under the Final Action Chart for their green card to be approved.

This is also where advanced strategies like interfiling, a process that allows AOS applicants to change their preference category, become a key topic. Interfiling is a process our attorneys use to move a client’s pending AOS application from one preference category to a more favorable one (e.g., from EB-3 to EB-2) to take advantage of a more current Final Action Date. This is a complex legal decision, and we recommend contacting VisaNation Law Group to determine if it is the right strategy for your specific case.

As the fiscal year progresses, demand fluctuations and potential “retrogressions” remain possible. Our firm doesn’t just monitor these trends; we actively analyze them to provide projections as new information becomes available. We encourage all applicants to stay informed and prepared for potential adjustments in the coming months.

Family-Based Green Cards

The category for family-based immigration comprises four preference levels based on who your sponsoring family member is in relation to you. They include:

• F1: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.
• F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
• F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation.
• F3: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
• F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

There are five chargeability areas for this category: China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and “All Other Chargeability Areas.” Your country of chargeability is where you were born.

Family-Based Dates for Filing Charts

F2A is Current on the Dates for Filing chart for every country. This permits eligible spouses and unmarried children under 21 of permanent residents to file Form I-485 in October regardless of priority date. For final action, F2A is September 22, 2026 for all countries except Mexico, which is March 22, 2026.

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the filing date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

Family-Based Final Action Dates Chart

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the final action date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

Important October 2026 Visa Bulletin Dates

For those new to the green card process, our law firm recommends learning a few terms and dates to understand the rest of this visa bulletin report. If you have further questions about the process or anything else about your green card, you should consult with your immigration attorney.

Priority Dates

Each person who files a petition with USCIS receives a priority date when the government receives their petition. A priority date establishes a person’s place in line to get an immigrant visa. Keep this date handy, since you will need it to compare with the dates in this bulletin. Remember that your priority date does not move, and you cannot change it except under certain circumstances.

Note: Priority dates are not relevant for immediate relatives of U.S. Citizens (e.g., spouses or minor children) as that category is always current.

Final Action Dates

Final action dates are based on the green card category and the chargeability area – your country of origin. Therefore, the final action dates constantly change based on how many people from each chargeability area have petitioned for that green card.

If green cards are still available, the final action date will likely move closer to your priority date. If green cards are unavailable, you will not see any movement from that final action date. However, if the limit has passed, you may see the date retrogress or move backward from your priority date.

Once the final action date in your green card preference level and chargeability area reaches your priority date, your priority date will be considered current. Once current, you will adjust your status or go through consular processing.

Date for Filing Charts and I-485

You’ll notice there are two charts for each category.

1. The Date for Filing chart determines whether or not one can submit the final immigrant visa application.
2. The Final Action Date chart indicates whether an immigrant visa number will be available.

USCIS announces which chart applicants can use within a week of the visa bulletin’s release.

Can You Shorten Your Waiting Time?

The short answer is: probably not. However, there are two prominent cases in which you may be able to shorten your green card processing time, which we will explain here.

1. The first way is to file an I-140 for a green card category that has a current priority date. In this case, your green card can begin processing immediately, and you can even pay an additional fee for premium processing, which will shorten the processing time to 15 business days. However, this is only available for certain green cards that use the I-140.
2. The second situation involves green card “porting,” or transferring your application from a lower preference level (EB-3) to a higher one (EB-2) to take advantage of the shorter waiting times. This is misleading because you don’t port your green card. In reality, you need to start with a new petition (and a new PERM if necessary). The “porting” aspect only comes in when you indicate that you want to retain your original priority date.

As attractive as “porting” might seem, it is a delicate process with particular requirements. Therefore, we recommend running complex decisions like this through your immigration attorney.

Visa Bulletin Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file an I-485 in October if my I-140 is still pending?

Often, yes. An applicant may file Form I-485 concurrently with a properly filed I-140 or while the I-140 remains pending if the priority date is current under the chart USCIS has designated for filing and the applicant is otherwise eligible to adjust status.

Does filing an I-485 mean my green card will be approved now?

No. Filing eligibility is determined by the chart USCIS designates for the month. USCIS cannot approve the adjustment application until the priority date is current under the Final Action Dates chart and the applicant meets all other requirements.

What happens if the category retrogresses after I file?

The I-485 remains pending. Eligible applicants may generally renew employment authorization and advance parole while waiting for the final action date to become current again.

Staying Up-to-Date

In the world of immigration law, it always pays to be informed. The more you know about your green card, the easier it will be to make informed decisions about your case. To stay in the know about things like the newest visa bulletin, follow the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin.

Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for October 2026. This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Visa availability changes monthly, and filing or approval eligibility depends on the facts of the individual case.