US Department of State Releases October 2026 Visa Bulletin

The US Department of State has released its October 2026 Visa Bulletin, outlining the per-country priority date cutoffs that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of adjustment of status application and consular immigrant visa application filings and approvals.

WHAT DOES THE OCTOBER 2026 VISA BULLETIN SAY?

The bulletin includes both a Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart and an Application Final Action Dates chart. The former indicates when intending immigrants may file their applications for adjustments of status or immigrant visas, and the latter indicates when adjustment of status applications or immigrant visa applications may be approved and permanent residence granted.

Each month, the USCIS chooses which chart it will follow. For October 2026, the USCIS will follow the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based (EB) filings for adjustment of status. This means that individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with the USCIS in October 2026 must use the Dates for Filing chart below.

DATES FOR FILING CUTOFF

To be eligible to file an EB adjustment application in October 2026, a foreign national must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country. The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date that is earlier than the listed date may file their applications.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIRST PREFERENCE (EB-1)

The EB-1 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain current. This means that all applicants chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-1 cutoff date for China and India will be July 1, 2024. This means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before July 1, 2024 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED SECOND PREFERENCE (EB-2)

The EB-2 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will be March 15, 2026. This means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before March 15, 2026 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-2 cutoff date for China will be January 1, 2023. This means that China EB-2 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-2 cutoff date for India will be January 15, 2015. This means that India EB-2 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 15, 2015 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED THIRD PREFERENCE (EB-3)

The EB-3 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas and Mexico will be August 1, 2024. This means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before August 1, 2024 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-3 cutoff date for China will be April 1, 2024. This means that China EB-3 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before April 1, 2024 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-3 cutoff date for India will be January 15, 2015. This means that India EB-3 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 15, 2015 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-3 cutoff date for the Philippines will be January 1, 2024. This means that Philippines EB-3 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 1, 2024 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

OTHER WORKERS

The Other Workers cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will be June 1, 2022. This means that Other Worker applicants from these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before June 1, 2022 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The Other Workers cutoff date for China will be October 1, 2020. This means that Other Worker applicants from China whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before October 1, 2020 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The Other Workers cutoff date for India will be January 15, 2015. This means that Other Worker applicants from India whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 15, 2015 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS

As Fiscal Year 2027 begins, USCIS will use the Dates for Filing Cutoff Date chart. There is retrogression for EB-2 applicants in All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines and for EB-3 applicants in All Chargeability Areas and Mexico.