USA Visa Bulletin October 2026: Priority Dates, Green Card Updates and Filing Dates for All Countries

Latest USA Visa Bulletin for October 2026

The October 2026 USA Visa Bulletin has been published. The U.S. Department of State has released updated Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for employment-based and family-sponsored immigrant visa categories.

The Visa Bulletin helps green card applicants determine whether an immigrant visa number may be available based on their priority date, immigrant visa category and country of chargeability. The bulletin applies to qualified applicants worldwide, including people from countries that are not separately listed in the official tables.

October 2026 marks the beginning of U.S. fiscal year 2027. Some priority dates have advanced, while other categories have experienced retrogression. A current priority date does not automatically guarantee green card approval.

October 2026 Visa Bulletin Highlights

• EB-1: Current for most countries. India and mainland China have separate cutoff dates.
• EB-2: The Final Action Date for most countries is January 1, 2025. India and mainland China have earlier cutoff dates.
• EB-3: The Final Action Date for most countries is May 15, 2024. India, mainland China and the Philippines have separate dates.
• EB-4: The general Final Action Date is December 15, 2022, across all five published country columns.
• EB-5: Unreserved categories have separate cutoff dates for India and China. The three reserved set-aside categories are current across the published columns.
• Family-sponsored visas: The F1, F2A, F2B, F3 and F4 categories have published cutoff dates, with some significant country differences.

Applicants should check the official U.S. Visa Bulletin index for the next monthly release.

October 2026 Employment-Based Visa Bulletin: Final Action Dates

Final Action Dates indicate when immigrant visa numbers may be authorized for qualified applicants in the relevant employment-based category and country of chargeability. An applicant's priority date generally must be earlier than the published cutoff date.

Table explanation: C means Current and U means Unavailable. Dates follow the day, month and year format used by the Department of State. The Most Countries column refers to All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.

Source: Official October 2026 Visa Bulletin.

EB-1 Priority Dates for October 2026

The October 2026 EB-1 Final Action Date is current for most countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UAE, Canada, the UK, Nigeria and Australia. Applicants chargeable to India have a cutoff date of February 1, 2023, while applicants chargeable to mainland China have a cutoff date of July 1, 2023.

EB-1 includes extraordinary ability applicants under EB-1A, outstanding professors and researchers under EB-1B, and certain multinational managers and executives under EB-1C. Current visa availability does not automatically establish eligibility for an EB-1 petition or green card approval.

EB-2 Priority Dates for October 2026

The October 2026 EB-2 Final Action Date is January 1, 2025, for most countries, November 1, 2013, for India and October 1, 2021, for mainland China.

EB-2 includes advanced-degree professionals and applicants with exceptional ability. EB-2 National Interest Waiver applicants generally use the same EB-2 Visa Bulletin row as other EB-2 applicants chargeable to the same country. EB-2 NIW does not have a separate cutoff-date chart.

EB-3 Priority Dates for October 2026

The October 2026 EB-3 Final Action Date is May 15, 2024, for most countries, January 1, 2014, for India, January 8, 2022, for mainland China and August 15, 2023, for the Philippines.

EB-3 includes qualifying professionals, skilled workers and other workers. The Other Workers subcategory has a separate row and different cutoff dates for some countries. Applicants should identify the exact EB-3 classification approved or requested in their immigration petition.

EB-4 and EB-5 Priority Dates for October 2026

The general EB-4 Final Action Date is December 15, 2022, across all five country columns. EB-4 covers various special immigrant classifications, although eligibility rules and program limitations vary by classification.

EB-5 unreserved immigrant visa numbers are current for most countries, while mainland China has a Final Action Date of December 1, 2016, and India has a Final Action Date of December 1, 2023. The rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure set-aside categories are current across the published country columns.

October 2026 Employment-Based Dates for Filing

The Dates for Filing chart identifies when certain applicants may begin submitting required documents or immigration applications. The applicable procedure depends on whether the applicant is completing consular processing or applying for adjustment of status inside the United States.

Important: Applicants filing Form I-485 must check which chart USCIS permits for October 2026. The Department of State's Dates for Filing chart does not automatically determine eligibility to submit Form I-485.

Check the USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Charts before submitting an adjustment application.

October 2026 Family-Sponsored Visa Bulletin: Final Action Dates

Family-sponsored preference immigration allows certain relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to immigrate through numerically limited visa categories. The applicable cutoff date depends on the family relationship, preference category and country of chargeability.

F2A note: The official bulletin includes additional allocation rules concerning certain F2A visas exempt from per-country limits. Applicants should consult the Department of State's full F2A explanation rather than relying only on the summary table.

What Are the Family-Sponsored Visa Categories?

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens: Eligible spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents of U.S. citizens aged 21 or older are generally not subject to the numerical limits that apply to family preference categories. They still must satisfy petition, admissibility and other immigration requirements.

October 2026 Family-Sponsored Dates for Filing

Family-sponsored Dates for Filing indicate when applicants may begin certain immigrant visa document-submission steps, subject to the applicable government instructions. Adjustment applicants must separately confirm which chart USCIS authorizes for the month.

The F2A Dates for Filing chart is current across the five published country columns for October 2026, but the Final Action Dates are not current. Applicants should understand that eligibility to begin certain filing steps does not guarantee immediate immigrant visa issuance or green card approval.

October 2026 vs September 2026 Visa Bulletin: What Changed?

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin begins fiscal year 2027 and includes changes to employment-based and family-sponsored immigrant visa cutoff dates. Some categories advanced, some remained unchanged, and certain employment-based Rest of World dates retrogressed.

The Department of State explains that retrogression in some employment-based categories was necessary to manage visa demand and quarterly or annual numerical limits.

Notable Employment-Based Updates

• EB-1 remains current for most countries under Final Action Dates.
• EB-1 applicants chargeable to India and China continue to have separate cutoff dates.
• EB-2 and EB-3 applicants should compare the new Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing with their previous month's values.
• EB-5 unreserved visas remain current for most countries, with separate cutoff dates for India and China.
• EB-5 reserved set-aside categories remain current across all five published country columns.

Notable Family-Sponsored Updates

• The F2A Final Action Date for most countries moved from August 22, 2026, to September 22, 2026.
• The F1 Final Action Date for Mexico moved from January 1, 2008, to September 8, 2008.
• The F1 Final Action Date for the Philippines moved from May 1, 2013, to November 1, 2013.
• The F2B Final Action Date for most countries remained August 22, 2019.

When comparing monthly Visa Bulletins, always use the same immigration category, country of chargeability and chart type. A change in the Final Action Date should not be confused with a change in the Date for Filing.

View the September 2026 Visa Bulletin.

USA Visa Bulletin for All Countries: Which Priority Date Applies to You?

The USA Visa Bulletin covers immigrant visa applicants worldwide, but it does not publish an individual priority-date column for every country. Most countries fall under the shared All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed column. Certain countries have separate columns because of applicable visa demand and allocation rules.

The October 2026 bulletin publishes five main chargeability columns: All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed, mainland-born China, India, Mexico and the Philippines.

Countries Covered by the Rest of World Column

The Rest of World column generally applies to applicants chargeable to countries not separately identified in the bulletin. The following examples help applicants identify their usual country group, subject to applicable chargeability exceptions.

This table provides examples rather than a complete list of countries or territories. Applicants chargeable to mainland China, India, Mexico or the Philippines should check their separate columns wherever those columns have different cutoff dates.

Is the Visa Bulletin Based on Country of Birth or Citizenship?

Country of chargeability is generally determined by country of birth, not passport nationality or current residence. A person may hold citizenship in one country while remaining chargeable to the country where they were born.

• Indian citizen born in the UAE: Generally chargeable to the UAE rather than India.
• Pakistani citizen born in Saudi Arabia: Generally chargeable to Saudi Arabia.
• Nigerian citizen living in Canada: Generally chargeable to Nigeria if born in Nigeria.
• British citizen born in India: Generally chargeable to India despite holding British citizenship.
• Bangladeshi citizen working in Qatar: Generally chargeable to Bangladesh if born there.
• Australian citizen born in the Philippines: Generally chargeable to the Philippines.

These examples illustrate standard chargeability rules. Specific statutory exceptions may apply, so applicants should confirm the chargeability area relevant to their case.

Can Married Applicants Use a Spouse's Country of Birth?

Some married immigrant applicants may qualify for cross-chargeability under U.S. immigration law. Cross-chargeability can allow an eligible applicant to use a spouse's country of chargeability when the statutory requirements are satisfied.

For example, an applicant born in India who is married to an applicant born in the United Kingdom may qualify to use the spouse's chargeability area in certain circumstances. Cross-chargeability is not automatically available to every married couple.

Does Dual Citizenship Change Your Visa Bulletin Country?

Holding two passports generally does not allow an immigrant visa applicant to choose the country column with the most favorable cutoff date. Country of birth normally remains the starting point for determining chargeability, subject to applicable exceptions.

Does Moving to Another Country Change Your Priority Date?

Moving to Canada, the UAE, the UK, Australia or another country does not ordinarily change an immigrant petition's established priority date. An applicant's processing location, citizenship and country of chargeability are different concepts.

What Is the USA Visa Bulletin and How Does It Work?

The USA Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State that reports immigrant visa-number availability in numerically limited family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories.

U.S. immigration law establishes annual numerical limits for many immigrant visa categories. When the number of qualified applicants exceeds available visa numbers, priority-date cutoff systems help regulate when immigrant visas may be issued or adjustment applications may receive final approval.

What Is a Priority Date?

A priority date establishes an immigrant applicant's position within the applicable preference-category waiting system. The method used to establish the priority date depends on the underlying immigration classification.

For many family-sponsored immigrants, the priority date generally corresponds to the date USCIS received a properly filed immigrant petition. For employment-based immigrants requiring permanent labor certification, the priority date is generally based on the date the labor certification application was accepted for processing. For categories without labor certification, the priority date is generally based on the immigrant petition filing date.

Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing

What Do C and U Mean in the Visa Bulletin?

C means Current: Visa numbers are available for qualified applicants in the specified preference category and chargeability area without a listed priority-date cutoff.

U means Unavailable: Immigrant visa numbers are not authorized for issuance in that category and chargeability area for the applicable period.

A listed cutoff date: An applicant generally needs a priority date earlier than the specified date. A priority date exactly equal to the cutoff date generally does not qualify.

What Is Visa Bulletin Retrogression?

Retrogression occurs when a priority-date cutoff moves backward in a subsequent Visa Bulletin. Retrogression can temporarily make immigrant visa numbers unavailable to applicants whose priority dates previously qualified under a later cutoff.

Retrogression does not automatically cancel an approved I-130 or I-140 petition. However, applicants affected by retrogression generally cannot receive final immigrant visa issuance or adjustment approval in a numerically limited category until a visa number becomes available again.

How to Check Your USA Visa Bulletin Priority Date Step by Step

Step 1: Identify Your Immigrant Visa Category

Determine whether your case belongs to an employment-based classification, such as EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4 or EB-5, or a family-sponsored category, such as F1, F2A, F2B, F3 or F4. Your exact category determines which row of the Visa Bulletin applies.

Step 2: Find Your Priority Date

Review the appropriate petition receipt, approval notice, labor certification record or other official immigration documentation. Do not confuse the priority date with a visa interview date, petition approval date or date of arrival in the United States.

Step 3: Confirm Your Country of Chargeability

Determine which country column applies to your case. Country of birth is generally the starting point, although special rules such as cross-chargeability may apply in qualifying situations.

Step 4: Select the Appropriate Visa Bulletin Chart

Applicants completing consular processing should review the Department of State's applicable charts and National Visa Center instructions. Applicants filing Form I-485 inside the United States must confirm which monthly filing chart USCIS authorizes.

Step 5: Compare Your Priority Date With the Cutoff Date

Your priority date generally must be earlier than the listed cutoff date. For example, an EB-2 applicant chargeable to the Rest of World group with a priority date of December 15, 2024, falls before the October 2026 EB-2 Final Action Date of January 1, 2025.

Another EB-2 applicant with a priority date of February 1, 2025, does not fall before the October 2026 Final Action Date for the same country group. These examples address visa-number availability, not an individual's complete immigration eligibility.

Step 6: Check the Next Required Immigration Action

Confirm your petition status, required documents, processing method and filing eligibility before taking action. Applicants inside the United States may have different requirements from applicants completing immigrant visa processing through a U.S. embassy or consulate.

What Happens When Your Priority Date Becomes Current?

A current priority date can make additional immigration steps possible, but it does not automatically lead to immediate green card approval. The next action depends on the applicant's petition status, location, processing method and legal eligibility.

If You Are Inside the United States

Eligible applicants may be able to submit Form I-485 when the applicable category, priority date and USCIS-authorized monthly filing chart permit filing. Applicants must also meet adjustment-of-status requirements, including applicable admissibility and immigration status rules.

If You Are Outside the United States

Applicants processing immigrant visas abroad generally work with the National Visa Center and the designated U.S. embassy or consulate. Document submission, case qualification, interview scheduling and final immigrant visa issuance are separate steps.

If Your I-140 or I-130 Is Pending

A current Visa Bulletin cutoff does not automatically mean that an immigrant petition has been approved. Petition adjudication and immigrant visa-number availability are separate requirements. Certain applicants may qualify for concurrent filing where the law and applicable filing chart permit it.

If Your I-485 Is Already Pending

USCIS may approve an otherwise eligible adjustment application when a visa number is available and all adjudication requirements have been satisfied. If the priority date retrogresses, a properly filed I-485 may remain pending, but USCIS generally cannot approve the numerically limited immigrant case until a visa number becomes available.

Can You Predict Your Green Card Waiting Time Using the Visa Bulletin?

The Visa Bulletin does not provide a guaranteed green card approval timeline. Cutoff dates reflect visa-number availability and demand management rather than a fixed estimate of how long an individual applicant will wait.

A cutoff date moving forward by six months does not mean an applicant's remaining wait has decreased by exactly six months. Cutoff movement can speed up, slow down, stop or reverse depending on the government's allocation decisions and changing demand.

Why Do Some Countries Have Longer Green Card Backlogs?

Different chargeability areas may experience different cutoff dates because of immigrant visa demand, annual preference-category limits and applicable per-country allocation rules. High demand in a particular category can contribute to a longer visa-number backlog.

Does the October Visa Bulletin Usually Move Faster?

October marks the start of the U.S. immigration fiscal year, when new annual immigrant visa allocations become available. However, a new fiscal year does not guarantee that every preference category will advance. Cutoff dates may advance, remain unchanged or retrogress.

What Factors Affect Future Visa Bulletin Movement?

• The number of applicants waiting in a preference category.
• Annual and quarterly immigrant visa-number limits.
• Country-specific demand and allocation rules.
• New petition filings and existing applicant demand.
• USCIS and consular processing activity.
• Available unused visa numbers where the law permits reallocation.
• Changes in applicant eligibility and visa usage.

Historical cutoff-date trends can help applicants understand previous movements, but historical trends should not be presented as a reliable prediction of future visa issuance or green card approval.

Common USA Visa Bulletin Mistakes to Avoid

• Using citizenship instead of chargeability: Country of birth generally determines chargeability, subject to legal exceptions.
• Using the wrong filing chart: Form I-485 applicants must check the USCIS chart selection for the relevant month.
• Confusing petition approval with green card approval: An approved I-130 or I-140 does not automatically mean an immigrant visa number is available.
• Assuming a current date guarantees an interview: Embassy capacity, NVC processing and individual eligibility can still affect timing.
• Interpreting cutoff movement as a waiting-time forecast: Historical movement does not guarantee future movement.
• Ignoring derivative family members: Spouses and children may face separate eligibility considerations, including Child Status Protection Act requirements.
• Assuming retrogression cancels an approved petition: Retrogression affects visa-number availability and does not automatically revoke petition approval.
• Using outdated social media charts: Always compare third-party summaries with official Department of State and USCIS information.

Does the USA Visa Bulletin Apply to Tourist, Student or Work Visas?

The monthly family-sponsored and employment-based preference charts primarily concern numerically limited immigrant visa categories. Ordinary temporary visitor, student and employment visas do not use those preference-category priority-date charts.

An H-1B, J-1, F-1 or other nonimmigrant visa holder may separately pursue an immigrant petition. For example, an H-1B professional with an EB-2 petition may need to check the EB-2 Visa Bulletin during the permanent residence process.

The Diversity Visa program has separate regional rank cutoffs and instructions published in the Visa Bulletin. Diversity Visa rank cutoffs are different from EB and family-sponsored priority-date cutoffs.

For a broader explanation of U.S. immigrant and nonimmigrant categories, read the VisaBoards guide to types of USA visas and their requirements.

Previous USA Visa Bulletins and Monthly Archive

The Department of State publishes Visa Bulletins monthly. Reviewing previous months can help applicants understand changes in the cutoff dates for their immigrant visa category and country of chargeability.

VisaBoards updates this article when new official Visa Bulletin information becomes available. Applicants should verify the applicable monthly bulletin before making filing or travel decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions About the USA Visa Bulletin

Does the United States release a Visa Bulletin every month?

Yes. The U.S. Department of State normally publishes a Visa Bulletin every month. The bulletin includes immigrant visa-number availability information for family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories, along with separate Diversity Visa rank information.

When is the next USA Visa Bulletin released?

The Department of State generally publishes each monthly bulletin during the preceding month. The exact publication date is not guaranteed. Applicants should check the official Visa Bulletin website for the latest release.

Does the USA Visa Bulletin cover every country?

Yes. The bulletin applies to immigrant visa applicants worldwide. Most chargeability areas share the All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed column, while certain countries have separate cutoff-date columns.

Is the Visa Bulletin based on citizenship or birthplace?

Visa Bulletin chargeability is generally based on country of birth rather than current citizenship or residence. Special immigration rules, including qualifying cross-chargeability, may apply in some circumstances.

Is EB-2 NIW listed separately in the Visa Bulletin?

No. EB-2 National Interest Waiver applicants generally follow the same EB-2 Visa Bulletin dates as other EB-2 applicants with the same country of chargeability.

What happens if my priority date is exactly the cutoff date?

A priority date generally must be earlier than a listed cutoff date to qualify under that cutoff. An applicant whose priority date is exactly the same as the listed cutoff date generally is not current under that date.

Can I submit Form I-485 using Dates for Filing?

Applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart for Form I-485 only when USCIS authorizes that chart for the relevant month and category and the applicant satisfies all applicable adjustment-of-status requirements.

Does an approved I-140 guarantee a green card?

No. An approved I-140 does not guarantee permanent residence. Applicants must also meet the applicable visa-number availability, admissibility and green card eligibility requirements.

Does the Visa Bulletin determine H-1B processing times?

No. The standard employment-based and family-sponsored Visa Bulletin charts do not determine H-1B petition processing times. H-1B workers pursuing employment-based green cards may separately be affected by immigrant visa priority dates.

Can Visa Bulletin dates move backward?

Yes. Retrogression occurs when a cutoff date moves backward. Retrogression may temporarily prevent immigrant visa issuance or final adjustment approval for applicants whose priority dates no longer qualify under the applicable Final Action Date.

What happens if my child turns 21 while waiting for a green card?

The Child Status Protection Act may preserve eligibility for certain applicants who age out while waiting. Eligibility depends on the immigration category, relevant dates and applicable USCIS or Department of State rules. Families should review current official guidance rather than relying only on a Visa Bulletin cutoff date.

Can my spouse's country of birth affect my green card waiting time?

Potentially. Some applicants may qualify for cross-chargeability based on a spouse's country of chargeability. The exception has specific legal requirements and is not automatically available to every married couple.

How long after my priority date becomes current will I receive a green card?

There is no guaranteed waiting period after a priority date becomes current. Petition status, document processing, interview scheduling, visa-number availability and individual immigration eligibility all affect the time required.

Official USA Visa Bulletin Sources

VisaBoards uses U.S. government publications as the primary reference for monthly Visa Bulletin data and related filing guidance.

• U.S. Department of State: Current and Archived Visa Bulletins
• October 2026 Official Visa Bulletin
• USCIS: Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
• USCIS: Green Card Eligibility and Procedures

Editorial disclaimer: VisaBoards is an independent immigration information website and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, USCIS or any U.S. government agency. Immigration rules, visa availability and filing requirements may change. Readers should verify case-specific information with official government sources or a qualified immigration attorney.

Last reviewed: October 13, 2026.