US October 2026 Visa Bulletin: China Advances, EB-2 and EB-3
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin opens fiscal year 2027 with major advancements for China in EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories, while EB-2 and EB-3 dates
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin shows significant advancement in visa numbers for China across multiple categories, particularly EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5 Unreserved, while most other countries face retrogression in EB-2 and EB-3. October marks the start of fiscal year 2027 with renewed visa numbers and substantial movement in selected employment categories. The State Department’s bulletin indicates most cut-off dates for China will advance significantly, while India's will advance or remain unchanged. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed all employment-based adjustment of status applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart in October 2026.
EB-2 India's Final Action date has been restored from Unavailable to November 1, 2013. EB-5 Unreserved India's Final Action date also reopened, moving to December 1, 2023. China saw the largest jumps in eligibility dates for filing applications. Its EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers filing date advanced by 814 days to April 1, 2024. The EB-5 Unreserved China filing date jumped by 1,461 days to March 1, 2021.
USCIS Policy on Eligibility for October Filings
USCIS has announced it will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications based on the Visa Bulletin Dates for Filing chart in October. In September, filers used the Final Action Dates chart. To be eligible to file in October, a foreign national must have a priority date earlier than the Date for Filing listed for their preference category and country. Key Dates for Filing for October 2026 include:
| Category | China | India | Philippines | All Other Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | July 1, 2024 | July 1, 2024 | N/A | Current |
| EB-3 Professionals/Skilled Workers | April 1, 2024 | January 15, 2015 | January 1, 2024 | August 1, 2024 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | October 1, 2020 | January 15, 2015 | N/A | June 1, 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | March 1, 2021 | May 1, 2024 | N/A | Current |
For family-based categories, the F2B Mexico Final Action date advanced 454 days to May 15, 2010. The F3 Philippines Final Action date moved forward 150 days to July 22, 2006.
Global Retrogression Patterns
The majority of backward movements in visa dates occur in rest-of-world, Mexico, and Philippines employment-based categories. Of 150 cells in the two charts, 43 moved forward, 15 moved backward, and 92 held. Every backward move is in rest-of-world, Mexico, or Philippines employment for EB-2, EB-3, and Other Workers. Section B of the October bulletin states these retrogressions are necessary to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits.
Seven Final Action cells retrogressed. The EB-2 Final Action date for the rest of world, Mexico, and the Philippines is now January 1, 2025. The EB-3 Final Action date for the rest of world and Mexico is May 15, 2024. In family categories, the F4 Philippines Final Action date retrogressed 267 days to May 15, 2008.
Final Action Date Movements
Final Action Dates, which govern when a visa can finally be issued, also showed movement. EB-1 India advanced 109 days to February 1, 2023, while EB-1 China remained at July 1, 2023. EB-2 China advanced one month to October 1, 2021. EB-3 China advanced one week to January 8, 2022. The EB-5 Set-Aside categories for Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure projects remain current for all countries.
Notably, the EB-2 India Final Action date of November 1, 2013 is now 61 days behind the EB-3 India Final Action date of January 1, 2014. For family-based cases, the F2A category for most countries advanced 31 days to September 22, 2026. The report was published on September 29, 2026. Applicants must verify their individual priority date against the October 2026 Dates for Filing chart to determine their eligibility to file an adjustment of status application this month.
