The Department of State has released the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the first bulletin of Fiscal Year 2027. A new allocation of immigrant visa numbers moved many categories forward. At the same time, the Department states that several employment based categories for Rest of World applicants have retrogressed to keep issuance within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits.
Which Chart Applies in October
USCIS has confirmed that for October 2026, applicants filing Form I-485 in both family sponsored and employment based categories may use the Dates for Filing chart. This means some applicants whose priority dates are not yet reached on the Final Action Dates chart may still file for adjustment of status this month, if otherwise eligible. Approval still depends on the Final Action Date becoming current for that applicant.
Employment Based Highlights
- EB-2 Rest of World: Final Action Date retrogresses from Current to January 1, 2025. Dates for Filing: March 15, 2026.
- EB-3 Rest of World: Final Action Date moves back to May 15, 2024. Dates for Filing: August 1, 2024.
- EB-2 India: No longer unavailable. Final Action Date: November 1, 2013.
- EB-1 India: Advances to February 1, 2023. EB-1 China holds at July 1, 2023. Both have a Dates for Filing cutoff of July 1, 2024.
- EB-3 China: Dates for Filing advances to April 1, 2024.
- EB-5: Unreserved India returns with a Final Action Date of December 1, 2023. All set aside categories remain current.
- EB-4 and Religious Workers: Final Action Date holds at December 15, 2022. H.R. 6500, signed September 2, 2026, extends the Certain Religious Workers category through December 11, 2026.
Family Sponsored Highlights
- F2A: Final Action Date advances to September 22, 2026 for most countries and to March 22, 2026 for Mexico. Dates for Filing remains current.
- Mexico and Philippines: Forward movement in F1, F2B, and F4, with Philippines F3 also advancing.
- F4 India: Advances to December 15, 2006.
What This Means for You
A retrogression does not erase a priority date. It delays when a visa can be issued. Applicants whose priority dates fall between the Final Action Date and the Dates for Filing cutoff may file this month and wait for final action. Employers with EB-2 or EB-3 Rest of World employees should review H-1B extension timelines now.
For eligible applicants, a properly filed Form I-485 may also support requests for employment authorization and advance parole while the case waits for a visa number. Applicants whose priority dates are now later than the Final Action Date should not assume an approval is imminent, even if a case was filed months ago. Because visa availability can change from month to month, we recommend confirming your chargeability country, category, and priority date against the official charts before acting on any filing decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which chart should I use to file Form I-485 in October 2026?
USCIS directs applicants in family sponsored and employment based categories to use the Dates for Filing chart this month.
Why did EB-2 Rest of World retrogress?
The Department of State says the retrogression keeps visa issuance within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits.
Is my pending I-485 affected by retrogression?
A pending application remains pending, but it cannot be approved until the priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date.
When does the October 2026 Visa Bulletin take effect?
October 1, 2026.
