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October 2026 Visa Bulletin

Written and checked by the QueueCheck editorial team. Last checked September 29, 2026. How we verify information

QueueCheck verified the October 2026 Visa Bulletin transcription on September 29, 2026.

USCIS had not named a filing chart for October 2026 when this page was last checked on September 29, 2026. The designation is published separately from the bulletin and can arrive days later, so the charts below are the bulletin's own; which of them governs an adjustment filing is not yet settled.

EB-1 India's Final Action Date is 01FEB23, compared with 15OCT22 in September 2026.

EB-2 India's Final Action Date is 01NOV13, compared with Unavailable in September 2026.

EB-3 India's Final Action Date is 01JAN14, compared with 01JAN14 in September 2026.

In October 2026, family-sponsored dates moved broadly forward, while most employment-based dates stayed where September 2026 left them. A smaller number of cut-offs moved backward.

QueueCheck October 2026 Visa Bulletin release-watch graphic with a calendar, bulletin document, passport, and the title October 2026 Visa Bulletin
In October 2026, family-sponsored dates moved broadly forward, while most employment-based dates stayed where September 2026 left them. A smaller number of cut-offs moved backward. The full comparison appears below.

Current status

Published and verified. State Department index checked September 29, 2026: it labels September 2026 Current and October 2026 Upcoming. The tables below are transcribed from the Department of State bulletin; changes are computed against September 2026.

Check your priority date

October 2026 Visa Bulletin: direct answers

These answer the questions people most often need resolved before they file, wait for an interview or compare a priority date.

Can I file Form I-485 in October 2026?

USCIS had not published the month's filing-chart choice when this page was checked. The prior month's selection does not carry forward automatically.

Does the USCIS chart choice apply to consular processing?

No. USCIS's monthly selection governs Form I-485 adjustment filings inside the United States. Consular applicants follow the Department of State, NVC and consular post instructions. Final Action Dates control when a visa number may be issued; receiving a document request does not itself guarantee an interview or visa.

Is my priority date current?

Compare the date on your petition notice with the correct category, chart and chargeability column. The priority date must be earlier than the cut-off. “C” means Current; “U” means Unavailable. Use the free QueueCheck Visa Bulletin Checker to understand what the official Visa Bulletin means for your priority date.

Check your priority date

Which country column should I use?

Chargeability normally follows country of birth, not citizenship or current residence. If your birth country is not China, India, Mexico or the Philippines, use “All other chargeability areas.” Limited cross-chargeability rules can allow use of a spouse's or parent's country in qualifying cases.

Does a current priority date guarantee approval or an interview?

No. The Visa Bulletin measures visa-number availability. It does not show where USCIS, NVC or a consulate has reached in processing your individual case, and it does not promise an interview date or approval. Your case must still be complete, eligible and ready for action by the agency handling it.

Release analysis

The movements behind October 2026

Read the family and employment changes as a focused news story, with the headline, comparisons and filing status generated from the same verified tables shown on this page.

Read the October 2026 Visa Bulletin movement analysis

October 2026 employment snapshot

All other chargeability areas employment-based dates

In October 2026, EB-1 is Current, EB-2 is 01JAN25 and EB-3 is 15MAY24 under Final Action Dates. The corresponding Dates for Filing are EB-1 Current, EB-2 15MAR26 and EB-3 01AUG24.

China (mainland born) employment-based dates

In October 2026, EB-1 is 01JUL23, EB-2 is 01OCT21 and EB-3 is 08JAN22 under Final Action Dates. The corresponding Dates for Filing are EB-1 01JUL24, EB-2 01JAN23 and EB-3 01APR24.

India employment-based dates

In October 2026, EB-1 is 01FEB23, EB-2 is 01NOV13 and EB-3 is 01JAN14 under Final Action Dates. The corresponding Dates for Filing are EB-1 01JUL24, EB-2 15JAN15 and EB-3 15JAN15.

Mexico employment-based dates

In October 2026, EB-1 is Current, EB-2 is 01JAN25 and EB-3 is 15MAY24 under Final Action Dates. The corresponding Dates for Filing are EB-1 Current, EB-2 15MAR26 and EB-3 01AUG24.

Philippines employment-based dates

In October 2026, EB-1 is Current, EB-2 is 01JAN25 and EB-3 is 15AUG23 under Final Action Dates. The corresponding Dates for Filing are EB-1 Current, EB-2 15MAR26 and EB-3 01JAN24.

October 2026 family snapshot

All other chargeability areas family-sponsored dates

In October 2026, Final Action Dates are F1 22JAN20, F2A 22SEP26, F2B 22AUG19, F3 22OCT14 and F4 22OCT11. Dates for Filing are F1 01FEB20, F2A Current, F2B 01SEP19, F3 01NOV14 and F4 01NOV11.

China (mainland born) family-sponsored dates

In October 2026, Final Action Dates are F1 22JAN20, F2A 22SEP26, F2B 22AUG19, F3 22OCT14 and F4 22OCT11. Dates for Filing are F1 01FEB20, F2A Current, F2B 01SEP19, F3 01NOV14 and F4 01NOV11.

India family-sponsored dates

In October 2026, Final Action Dates are F1 22JAN20, F2A 22SEP26, F2B 22AUG19, F3 22OCT14 and F4 15DEC06. Dates for Filing are F1 01FEB20, F2A Current, F2B 01SEP19, F3 01NOV14 and F4 01FEB07.

Mexico family-sponsored dates

In October 2026, Final Action Dates are F1 08SEP08, F2A 22MAR26, F2B 15MAY10, F3 01JUL01 and F4 22APR01. Dates for Filing are F1 01DEC08, F2A Current, F2B 22MAR11, F3 01DEC02 and F4 30APR01.

Philippines family-sponsored dates

In October 2026, Final Action Dates are F1 01NOV13, F2A 22SEP26, F2B 01OCT13, F3 22JUL06 and F4 15MAY08. Dates for Filing are F1 22APR15, F2A Current, F2B 01OCT14, F3 22OCT06 and F4 22MAR09.

October 2026 Final Action Dates

A visa number can be authorized only when the priority date is earlier than the cut-off for the category and chargeability area.

October 2026 Final Action Dates, Family-sponsored
CategoryAll other chargeability areasChina (mainland born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
F1: unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens22JAN2022JAN2022JAN2008SEP0801NOV13
F2A: spouses and children of permanent residents22SEP2622SEP2622SEP2622MAR2622SEP26
F2B: unmarried adult children of permanent residents22AUG1922AUG1922AUG1915MAY1001OCT13
F3: married children of U.S. citizens22OCT1422OCT1422OCT1401JUL0122JUL06
F4: siblings of adult U.S. citizens22OCT1122OCT1115DEC0622APR0115MAY08
October 2026 Final Action Dates, Employment-based
CategoryAll other chargeability areasChina (mainland born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1: priority workersC01JUL2301FEB23CC
EB-2: advanced degrees and exceptional ability01JAN2501OCT2101NOV1301JAN2501JAN25
EB-3: skilled workers and professionals15MAY2408JAN2201JAN1415MAY2415AUG23
EB-3: other workers01JAN2201OCT1901JAN1401JAN2201JAN22
EB-4: special immigrants15DEC2215DEC2215DEC2215DEC2215DEC22
EB-4: certain religious workers15DEC2215DEC2215DEC2215DEC2215DEC22
EB-5: unreserved investor visasC01DEC1601DEC23CC
EB-5 set-aside: rural (20%)CCCCC
EB-5 set-aside: high unemployment (10%)CCCCC
EB-5 set-aside: infrastructure (2%)CCCCC

October 2026 Dates for Filing

These dates control document submission and adjustment filing only when USCIS designates this chart for the relevant preference type.

October 2026 Dates for Filing, Family-sponsored
CategoryAll other chargeability areasChina (mainland born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
F1: unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens01FEB2001FEB2001FEB2001DEC0822APR15
F2A: spouses and children of permanent residentsCCCCC
F2B: unmarried adult children of permanent residents01SEP1901SEP1901SEP1922MAR1101OCT14
F3: married children of U.S. citizens01NOV1401NOV1401NOV1401DEC0222OCT06
F4: siblings of adult U.S. citizens01NOV1101NOV1101FEB0730APR0122MAR09
October 2026 Dates for Filing, Employment-based
CategoryAll other chargeability areasChina (mainland born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1: priority workersC01JUL2401JUL24CC
EB-2: advanced degrees and exceptional ability15MAR2601JAN2315JAN1515MAR2615MAR26
EB-3: skilled workers and professionals01AUG2401APR2415JAN1501AUG2401JAN24
EB-3: other workers01JUN2201OCT2015JAN1501JUN2201JUN22
EB-4: special immigrants01JAN2501JAN2501JAN2501JAN2501JAN25
EB-4: certain religious workers01JAN2501JAN2501JAN2501JAN2501JAN25
EB-5: unreserved investor visasC01MAR2101MAY24CC
EB-5 set-aside: rural (20%)CCCCC
EB-5 set-aside: high unemployment (10%)CCCCC
EB-5 set-aside: infrastructure (2%)CCCCC

What changed from September 2026

Unchanged rows are omitted. Matching country movements are grouped so advances, retrogressions, Current and Unavailable changes remain easy to scan.

Final Action Dates

Dates for Filing

Important categories

These are the lines most often watched across employment and family preferences. Each link opens the permanent category history, not a new country or keyword page.

What the October 2026 bulletin says in its own notes

Quoted from the published document, with the Department's own section letters. Nothing here is paraphrased or shortened.

A. Statutory numerical limits

Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets an annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit of 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.

A. F2A numbers exempt from the per-country limit

For October, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 22MAR26. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO, with priority dates beginning 22MAR26 and earlier than 22SEP26. All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit.

B. Availability of Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based Visas for FY 2027

With the availability of FY 2027 immigrant visa numbers, dates for filing and final action dates have advanced across various immigrant visa categories. However, some employment-based visa categories for “Rest of World” countries have retrogressed, and these retrogressions are necessary to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits. This situation is being continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

C. Extension of the Employment Fourth Religious Workers (SR) Category

H.R. 6500, signed on September 2, 2026, extends the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category through December 11, 2026. The SR category is subject to the same dates for filing and final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.

D. U.S. Government Employee Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, signed into law on December 22, 2023, may affect certain current and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad, as well as certain surviving spouses and children of deceased employees of the U.S. government abroad, applying for SIVs or adjustment of status, as described in section 101(a)(27)(D) of the INA. This does not affect certain Iraqis and Afghans applying for SQ and SI SIVs. Applicants should contact the consular section at which they filed their Form DS-1884 for further information on the impact of that law on their case.

How to read the charts

Final Action Dates control when a visa number can be authorized. Dates for Filing are the earlier document-submission dates; USCIS separately chooses which chart adjustment-of-status applicants may use each month.

C means Current, so the chart has no cut-off for that row. U means Unavailable, so no numbers may be authorized for it that month. Chargeability normally follows country of birth rather than citizenship or residence.

Read the detailed Visa Bulletin guide

Official sources

Adjacent bulletins

September 2026 Visa BulletinNovember 2026 Visa BulletinFull monthly archive

Related help for the next stage

A bulletin month records visa availability. These QueueCheck resources cover the practical arrival and permanent-resident tasks that become relevant later.

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