← All articles

October 2026 Visa Bulletin Analysis: Priority Date Movements

3 min read
Listen to this article8 min listen

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin is out, and EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India have visa numbers available again after being Unavailable in the September bulletin. Final Action Dates also retrogressed for EB-2 Mexico, EB-2 Philippines, EB-2 Rest of World, EB-3 Mexico, EB-3 Rest of World, EB-3 Other Workers Mexico and EB-3 Other Workers Rest of World. Here is the full comparison against September 2026 and which chart USCIS is using for I-485 filings.

Final Action Dates (FAD): What Changed

CategoryCountryPrevious FADNew FADChange
EB-1ChinaJul 1, 2023Jul 1, 2023No change
EB-1IndiaOct 15, 2022Feb 1, 2023+4 months
EB-1MexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-1PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-1Rest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-2ChinaSep 1, 2021Oct 1, 2021+1 month
EB-2IndiaUnavailableNov 1, 2013Available again
EB-2MexicoCurrentJan 1, 2025Retrogressed from Current
EB-2PhilippinesCurrentJan 1, 2025Retrogressed from Current
EB-2Rest of WorldCurrentJan 1, 2025Retrogressed from Current
EB-3ChinaJan 1, 2022Jan 8, 2022+7 days
EB-3IndiaJan 1, 2014Jan 1, 2014No change
EB-3MexicoSep 1, 2024May 15, 2024-4 months
EB-3PhilippinesAug 1, 2023Aug 15, 2023+14 days
EB-3Rest of WorldSep 1, 2024May 15, 2024-4 months
EB-3 Other WorkersChinaMay 1, 2019Oct 1, 2019+5 months
EB-3 Other WorkersIndiaJan 1, 2014Jan 1, 2014No change
EB-3 Other WorkersMexicoApr 1, 2022Jan 1, 2022-3 months
EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippinesDec 1, 2021Jan 1, 2022+1 month
EB-3 Other WorkersRest of WorldApr 1, 2022Jan 1, 2022-3 months
EB-5 UnreservedChinaDec 1, 2016Dec 1, 2016No change
EB-5 UnreservedIndiaUnavailableDec 1, 2023Available again
EB-5 UnreservedMexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 UnreservedPhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 UnreservedRest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralChinaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralIndiaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralMexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralPhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralRest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentChinaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentIndiaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentMexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentPhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentRest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructureChinaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructureIndiaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructureMexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructurePhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructureRest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change

Dates for Filing (DFF): What Changed

CategoryCountryPrevious DFFNew DFFChange
EB-1ChinaDec 1, 2023Jul 1, 2024+7 months
EB-1IndiaDec 1, 2023Jul 1, 2024+7 months
EB-1MexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-1PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-1Rest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-2ChinaJan 1, 2022Jan 1, 2023+12 months
EB-2IndiaJan 15, 2015Jan 15, 2015No change
EB-2MexicoCurrentMar 15, 2026Retrogressed from Current
EB-2PhilippinesCurrentMar 15, 2026Retrogressed from Current
EB-2Rest of WorldCurrentMar 15, 2026Retrogressed from Current
EB-3ChinaJan 8, 2022Apr 1, 2024+27 months
EB-3IndiaJan 15, 2015Jan 15, 2015No change
EB-3MexicoCurrentAug 1, 2024Retrogressed from Current
EB-3PhilippinesJan 1, 2024Jan 1, 2024No change
EB-3Rest of WorldCurrentAug 1, 2024Retrogressed from Current
EB-3 Other WorkersChinaOct 1, 2019Oct 1, 2020+12 months
EB-3 Other WorkersIndiaJan 15, 2015Jan 15, 2015No change
EB-3 Other WorkersMexicoAug 1, 2022Jun 1, 2022-2 months
EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippinesAug 1, 2022Jun 1, 2022-2 months
EB-3 Other WorkersRest of WorldAug 1, 2022Jun 1, 2022-2 months
EB-5 UnreservedChinaMar 1, 2017Mar 1, 2021+48 months
EB-5 UnreservedIndiaMay 1, 2024May 1, 2024No change
EB-5 UnreservedMexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 UnreservedPhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 UnreservedRest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralChinaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralIndiaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralMexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralPhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 RuralRest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentChinaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentIndiaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentMexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentPhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 High UnemploymentRest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructureChinaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructureIndiaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructureMexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructurePhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 InfrastructureRest of WorldCurrentCurrentNo change

Key Takeaways

  • In the October 2026 bulletin, visa numbers are available again for EB-2 India (Nov 1, 2013) and EB-5 Unreserved India (Dec 1, 2023), which were Unavailable in the September bulletin.
  • EB-3 Other Workers China saw the largest Final Action Date advance at +5 months.
  • EB-5 Unreserved China had the biggest Dates for Filing jump at +48 months.
  • Retrogression was observed for EB-2 Mexico (Current to Jan 1, 2025), EB-2 Philippines (Current to Jan 1, 2025), EB-2 Rest of World (Current to Jan 1, 2025), EB-3 Mexico, EB-3 Rest of World, EB-3 Other Workers Mexico and EB-3 Other Workers Rest of World in Final Action Dates. Applicants in these categories should monitor closely.
  • Dates for Filing moved back for EB-2 Mexico (Current to Mar 15, 2026), EB-2 Philippines (Current to Mar 15, 2026), EB-2 Rest of World (Current to Mar 15, 2026), EB-3 Mexico (Current to Aug 1, 2024), EB-3 Rest of World (Current to Aug 1, 2024), EB-3 Other Workers Mexico (Aug 1, 2022 to Jun 1, 2022), EB-3 Other Workers Philippines (Aug 1, 2022 to Jun 1, 2022) and EB-3 Other Workers Rest of World (Aug 1, 2022 to Jun 1, 2022).
  • Final Action Dates remained unchanged for 25 of 40 category-country combinations.

Which Chart Can You File Under?

For October 2026, USCIS designated the Dates for Filing chart for adjustment of status. The designation applies to the October bulletin, which takes effect on October 1, 2026. If your priority date is earlier than the Dates for Filing cutoff for your category, you may be able to file Form I-485 during October 2026, even if the Final Action Date has not yet reached your date. Always confirm at uscis.gov/visabulletininfo before filing.

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories Stay Current

All three EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) remain Current for every country in the October 2026 bulletin.

Update, September 30, 2026: What Changed for India EB-2 and EB-3, and What to Watch in FY2027

Many readers asked why EB-2 India barely moved in October, and our earlier EB-2 India post drew fair pushback.

What changed. The EB-2 India Final Action Date returns at November 1, 2013, after the category was Unavailable in the July, August and September 2026 bulletins. The Dates for Filing holds at January 15, 2015 for both EB-2 and EB-3 India. The larger practical change is which chart USCIS accepts: for October, USCIS states that "for all employment-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart," after designating Final Action Dates in September. Applicants charged to India with an EB-2 or EB-3 priority date before January 15, 2015 who are otherwise eligible may be able to file an I-485 from October 1, along with an EAD and advance parole application. The designation can change month to month; USCIS publishes it at uscis.gov/visabulletininfo.

What the State Department said in July. The July 2026 Visa Bulletin said it was "likely that in October the final action date will advance to at least the final action date announced in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin" (July 15, 2014), and that the date depended on EB-2 India demand and "the FY 2027 annual limit on employment-based preference visas." The October date is about 8.5 months earlier than that. The October bulletin does not explain the difference, and it does not yet state an FY2027 employment-based limit beyond the statutory "at least 140,000."

Why the chart is an opening, not a forecast. USCIS has designated the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based filings every October since 2018, including October 2025. The EB-2 India Final Action Date then retrogressed in June 2026 and became Unavailable in July. The chart choice alone does not indicate where the Final Action Date goes next.

What would move India's dates in FY2027. The State Department says FY2027 numbers are now available and that some Rest of World employment-based categories retrogressed, and "these retrogressions are necessary to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits." Rest of World EB-2 moved from Current to a Final Action Date of January 1, 2025, and Rest of World EB-3 moved back from September 1, 2024 to May 15, 2024. Under INA 202(a)(5), if Rest of World demand in a category ends up below the numbers available, the unused numbers may go to applicants charged to oversubscribed countries, including India, in priority date order. If Rest of World uses its full share, India's dates would likely move slowly or hold. In FY2021 and FY2022, the two largest employment-based years in recent history, the EB-2 India Final Action Date advanced mainly after October (about two months in October 2020, none in October 2021), then retrogressed 32 months in October 2022.

What to watch. Whether Rest of World dates advance, hold or retrogress in the coming bulletins, how quickly USCIS and the consulates approve Rest of World cases at the new dates, whether the year's numbers are fully used, and any State Department notes on number use. If Rest of World demand comes in below the numbers available and the year's numbers are fully used, India's dates could advance during FY2027. If Rest of World uses its full share, they could hold or retrogress, as EB-2 India's did in FY2026.

Sources: the July and October 2026 Visa Bulletins (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov), USCIS chart designations (uscis.gov/visabulletininfo), INA 202(a)(5), and GreenCardClock's bulletin history. Not legal advice.

What This Means for You

Use our Priority Date Estimator to see how these changes affect your specific timeline based on your category and country of chargeability. You can also view the full historical data on our Visa Bulletin Tracker page to understand long-term trends.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov). Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing are as published by the U.S. Department of State in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin. This is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for case-specific guidance.

Check your green card timeline

Get an estimated green card timeline based on your country, EB category, and priority date. The three scenario dates need a $0.99 24-hour pass (up to 3 priority dates), the Day Pass or Pro.

Open Priority Date Estimator
Questions? Ask here