Key takeaways
- Current and Unavailable are statuses, so changes involving them have no day-count comparison.
- A priority date must be earlier than the applicable cutoff.
- Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing serve different purposes.
- USCIS selected Dates for Filing for October adjustment applications.
- Monthly cutoff movement is not a processing-time or waiting-time estimate.
Sources: DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF. DOS information checked September 29, 2026. USCIS October filing-chart selection verified October 8, 2026.
What changed in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin?
| Category / area | September Final Action | October Final Action | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 India | October 15, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | +109 days |
| EB-2 India | Unavailable | November 1, 2013 | Reopens; no numeric delta |
| EB-2 China, mainland born | September 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 | +30 days |
| EB-2 ROW, Mexico and Philippines | Current | January 1, 2025 | Retrogression; cutoff introduced |
| EB-3 ROW and Mexico | September 1, 2024 | May 15, 2024 | −109 days |
| EB-5 Unreserved India | Unavailable | December 1, 2023 | Reopens; no numeric delta |
Sources: DOS September and DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF. Calculations by PetitionMatcher: October cutoff minus September cutoff in calendar days. Current and Unavailable are statuses, so transitions involving them have no numeric day difference.
What are the October employment-based dates?
The following tables reproduce all five official chargeability columns. C means Current. A dated cutoff excludes priority dates on that exact day. The Filing table is not, by itself, permission to file an I-485. DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF
October 2026 Employment Final Action Dates
| Category | Rest of World | China, mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current (C) | July 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB-2 | January 1, 2025 | October 1, 2021 | November 1, 2013 | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 |
| EB-3 skilled workers / professionals | May 15, 2024 | January 8, 2022 | January 1, 2014 | May 15, 2024 | August 15, 2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | January 1, 2022 | October 1, 2019 | January 1, 2014 | January 1, 2022 | January 1, 2022 |
| EB-4 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 |
| Certain Religious Workers | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current (C) | December 1, 2016 | December 1, 2023 | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB-5 Rural set-aside | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB-5 High Unemployment set-aside | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB-5 Infrastructure set-aside | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
Source: DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF.
October 2026 Employment Dates for Filing
| Category | Rest of World | China, mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current (C) | July 1, 2024 | July 1, 2024 | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB-2 | March 15, 2026 | January 1, 2023 | January 15, 2015 | March 15, 2026 | March 15, 2026 |
| EB-3 skilled workers / professionals | August 1, 2024 | April 1, 2024 | January 15, 2015 | August 1, 2024 | January 1, 2024 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | June 1, 2022 | October 1, 2020 | January 15, 2015 | June 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 |
| EB-4 | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 |
| Certain Religious Workers | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current (C) | March 1, 2021 | May 1, 2024 | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB-5 Rural set-aside | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB-5 High Unemployment set-aside | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB-5 Infrastructure set-aside | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
Source: DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF.
How did every employment cutoff change from September?
Each cell shows the September cutoff → October cutoff, followed by the exact calendar-day change or status transition. Numeric day changes describe cutoff movement, not waiting time.
Employment Final Action Dates: September → October 2026
| Category | Rest of World | China, mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | July 1, 2023 → July 1, 2023; 0 days; unchanged | October 15, 2022 → February 1, 2023; +109 days; advancement | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
| EB-2 | Current (C) → January 1, 2025; Retrogression: cutoff introduced; no numeric delta | September 1, 2021 → October 1, 2021; +30 days; advancement | Unavailable (U) → November 1, 2013; Reopens; no numeric delta | Current (C) → January 1, 2025; Retrogression: cutoff introduced; no numeric delta | Current (C) → January 1, 2025; Retrogression: cutoff introduced; no numeric delta |
| EB-3 skilled workers / professionals | September 1, 2024 → May 15, 2024; -109 days; retrogression | January 1, 2022 → January 8, 2022; +7 days; advancement | January 1, 2014 → January 1, 2014; 0 days; unchanged | September 1, 2024 → May 15, 2024; -109 days; retrogression | August 1, 2023 → August 15, 2023; +14 days; advancement |
| EB-3 Other Workers | April 1, 2022 → January 1, 2022; -90 days; retrogression | May 1, 2019 → October 1, 2019; +153 days; advancement | January 1, 2014 → January 1, 2014; 0 days; unchanged | April 1, 2022 → January 1, 2022; -90 days; retrogression | December 1, 2021 → January 1, 2022; +31 days; advancement |
| EB-4 | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged |
| Certain Religious Workers | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged | December 15, 2022 → December 15, 2022; 0 days; unchanged |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | December 1, 2016 → December 1, 2016; 0 days; unchanged | Unavailable (U) → December 1, 2023; Reopens; no numeric delta | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
| EB-5 Rural set-aside | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
| EB-5 High Unemployment set-aside | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
| EB-5 Infrastructure set-aside | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
Sources: DOS September and DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF. Calculations by PetitionMatcher: October cutoff minus September cutoff in calendar days. Current and Unavailable are statuses, so transitions involving them have no numeric day difference.
Employment Dates for Filing: September → October 2026
| Category | Rest of World | China, mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | December 1, 2023 → July 1, 2024; +213 days; advancement | December 1, 2023 → July 1, 2024; +213 days; advancement | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
| EB-2 | Current (C) → March 15, 2026; Retrogression: cutoff introduced; no numeric delta | January 1, 2022 → January 1, 2023; +365 days; advancement | January 15, 2015 → January 15, 2015; 0 days; unchanged | Current (C) → March 15, 2026; Retrogression: cutoff introduced; no numeric delta | Current (C) → March 15, 2026; Retrogression: cutoff introduced; no numeric delta |
| EB-3 skilled workers / professionals | Current (C) → August 1, 2024; Retrogression: cutoff introduced; no numeric delta | January 8, 2022 → April 1, 2024; +814 days; advancement | January 15, 2015 → January 15, 2015; 0 days; unchanged | Current (C) → August 1, 2024; Retrogression: cutoff introduced; no numeric delta | January 1, 2024 → January 1, 2024; 0 days; unchanged |
| EB-3 Other Workers | August 1, 2022 → June 1, 2022; -61 days; retrogression | October 1, 2019 → October 1, 2020; +366 days; advancement | January 15, 2015 → January 15, 2015; 0 days; unchanged | August 1, 2022 → June 1, 2022; -61 days; retrogression | August 1, 2022 → June 1, 2022; -61 days; retrogression |
| EB-4 | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement |
| Certain Religious Workers | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement | January 1, 2023 → January 1, 2025; +731 days; advancement |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | March 1, 2017 → March 1, 2021; +1,461 days; advancement | May 1, 2024 → May 1, 2024; 0 days; unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
| EB-5 Rural set-aside | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
| EB-5 High Unemployment set-aside | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
| EB-5 Infrastructure set-aside | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged | Current (C) → Current (C); Unchanged |
Sources: DOS September and DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF. Calculations by PetitionMatcher: October cutoff minus September cutoff in calendar days. Current and Unavailable are statuses, so transitions involving them have no numeric day difference.
Did EB-2 India and China advance, and is Rest of World Current?
India reopens with a November 1, 2013 Final Action cutoff; its Filing cutoff remains January 15, 2015. China advances 30 days in Final Action and 365 days in Filing, to October 1, 2021 and January 1, 2023. ROW is no longer Current on either chart: January 1, 2025 for Final Action and March 15, 2026 for Filing. Mexico and the Philippines have those same EB-2 entries. DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF
Read the focused October EB-2 NIW analysis for the India recovery comparison, 2026 history, cutoff examples and chart-gap explanation.
What are the October family-sponsored dates?
October 2026 Family Final Action Dates
| Category | Rest of World | China, mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | January 22, 2020 | January 22, 2020 | January 22, 2020 | September 8, 2008 | November 1, 2013 |
| F2A | September 22, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | March 22, 2026 | September 22, 2026 |
| F2B | August 22, 2019 | August 22, 2019 | August 22, 2019 | May 15, 2010 | October 1, 2013 |
| F3 | October 22, 2014 | October 22, 2014 | October 22, 2014 | July 1, 2001 | July 22, 2006 |
| F4 | October 22, 2011 | October 22, 2011 | December 15, 2006 | April 22, 2001 | May 15, 2008 |
Source: DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF.
October 2026 Family Dates for Filing
| Category | Rest of World | China, mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | February 1, 2020 | February 1, 2020 | February 1, 2020 | December 1, 2008 | April 22, 2015 |
| F2A | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| F2B | September 1, 2019 | September 1, 2019 | September 1, 2019 | March 22, 2011 | October 1, 2014 |
| F3 | November 1, 2014 | November 1, 2014 | November 1, 2014 | December 1, 2002 | October 22, 2006 |
| F4 | November 1, 2011 | November 1, 2011 | February 1, 2007 | April 30, 2001 | March 22, 2009 |
Source: DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF.
F2A qualification: Exempt-from-per-country-limit numbers are available for priority dates before March 22, 2026 in all areas. Numbers subject to that limit are available to areas other than Mexico for priority dates on or after March 22, 2026 and before September 22, 2026. All F2A numbers for Mexico are exempt. Do not apply the general September cutoff to Mexico. DOS F2A footnote
Which family cutoffs moved from September?
The table lists every changed family entry; all omitted family entries are unchanged on that chart.
| Category / area | Chart | September 2026 | October 2026 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 · Mexico | Final Action Dates | January 1, 2008 | September 8, 2008 | +251 days; advancement |
| F1 · Philippines | Final Action Dates | May 1, 2013 | November 1, 2013 | +184 days; advancement |
| F2A · Rest of World | Final Action Dates | August 22, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | +31 days; advancement |
| F2A · China, mainland born | Final Action Dates | August 22, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | +31 days; advancement |
| F2A · India | Final Action Dates | August 22, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | +31 days; advancement |
| F2A · Mexico | Final Action Dates | August 22, 2025 | March 22, 2026 | +212 days; advancement |
| F2A · Philippines | Final Action Dates | August 22, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | +31 days; advancement |
| F2B · Mexico | Final Action Dates | February 15, 2009 | May 15, 2010 | +454 days; advancement |
| F2B · Philippines | Final Action Dates | June 1, 2013 | October 1, 2013 | +122 days; advancement |
| F3 · Philippines | Final Action Dates | February 22, 2006 | July 22, 2006 | +150 days; advancement |
| F4 · India | Final Action Dates | November 1, 2006 | December 15, 2006 | +44 days; advancement |
| F4 · Mexico | Final Action Dates | April 8, 2001 | April 22, 2001 | +14 days; advancement |
| F4 · Philippines | Final Action Dates | August 22, 2007 | May 15, 2008 | +267 days; advancement |
| F2B · Mexico | Dates for Filing | May 15, 2010 | March 22, 2011 | +311 days; advancement |
| F2B · Philippines | Dates for Filing | October 1, 2013 | October 1, 2014 | +365 days; advancement |
| F3 · Mexico | Dates for Filing | July 15, 2001 | December 1, 2002 | +504 days; advancement |
| F3 · Philippines | Dates for Filing | August 8, 2006 | October 22, 2006 | +75 days; advancement |
| F4 · India | Dates for Filing | December 15, 2006 | February 1, 2007 | +48 days; advancement |
| F4 · Philippines | Dates for Filing | March 22, 2008 | March 22, 2009 | +365 days; advancement |
Sources: DOS September and DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF. Calculations by PetitionMatcher: October cutoff minus September cutoff in calendar days. Current and Unavailable are statuses, so transitions involving them have no numeric day difference.
Which Visa Bulletin chart should adjustment applicants use?
USCIS selected Dates for Filing for October 2026 for all employment-based and family-sponsored preference categories. We verified the official USCIS October filing charts on October 8, 2026. Check the current USCIS filing-chart instructions before filing an I-485. Your priority date must be earlier than the applicable cutoff, and other adjustment eligibility requirements still apply.
A chart that allows filing does not allow final approval under the same cutoff. The Department of State publishes both charts; that publication does not itself authorize adjustment applicants to use Dates for Filing. Use Chart B only if USCIS permits it for your category and month; otherwise its instructions direct applicants to Final Action Dates. Final approval still requires visa availability. For consular processing, follow the National Visa Center's instructions; USCIS's adjustment chart choice is a different step. DOS instructions · USCIS guidance
What do Final Action Dates, Dates for Filing and Current mean?
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Priority date | Your place in the visa queue. For a new NIW petition, generally the date USCIS properly receives the I-140. Check your notice and any retained earlier priority date. |
| Final Action Dates / Chart A | The cutoff relevant to visa availability for final approval. A priority date must be earlier than a dated cutoff. |
| Dates for Filing / Chart B | The chart for beginning the applicable filing or document-submission stage. I-485 applicants may use it only when USCIS authorizes it for that category and month. |
| Current / C | No priority-date cutoff in that chart and chargeability area. Other requirements still apply. |
| Unavailable / U | No visa numbers may be authorized for issuance in that category and area. |
Sources: DOS chart definitions, USCIS priority dates and USCIS EB-2 guidance. Chargeability normally follows country of birth; exceptions require individual review. Rest of World here means the official All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed column. Mexico and the Philippines have separate columns; both match ROW for EB-2 in October.
Why did some dates retrogress at the start of a new fiscal year?
October 1, 2026 begins fiscal year 2027. A new allocation does not require every category to advance or become Current. DOS says October's advances reflect the FY2027 allocation, while some Rest of World employment cutoffs retrogress to keep issuance within quarterly and annual limits. It will monitor demand and adjust dates as needed. DOS October, section B
The bulletin does not give a month when EB-2 ROW will become Current again. It also does not quantify the final FY2027 spillover or promise when any spillover will translate into later cutoffs. The October table alone cannot establish that spillover is zero, unused or guaranteed to move a particular country next month. DOS October allocation rules and explanation Its statutory employment-based minimum of 140,000 is not a confirmed final FY2027 allocation or a count reserved for NIW applicants. Cutoff movement also does not reveal how quickly USCIS will decide an individual petition or I-485.
What else does the release say?
- Certain Religious Workers: DOS reports an extension through December 11, 2026 and applies the EB-4 dates: December 15, 2022 for Final Action and January 1, 2025 for Filing in every column. Recheck later availability notices and the program deadline.
- Other Workers: DOS describes an approximately 150-number FY2027 reduction under NACARA. The EB-3 Other Workers row is distinct from the skilled-worker/professional row.
- Some special immigrant visas: Section D discusses changes affecting certain U.S.-government-employee SIV applicants and surviving family members. DOS directs affected applicants to the consular section handling their DS-1884; it distinguishes specified Iraqi and Afghan SQ/SI cases.
- Diversity visas: This October issue does not publish a DV regional rank-cutoff table. Do not infer a rank cutoff, Current status or cancellation from that omission; follow official DV guidance.
Source: October DOS bulletin and explanatory sections.
What does this mean for NIW applicants?
NIW applicants use EB-2, with the appropriate chargeability column. The bulletin determines visa availability and relevant date windows; it does not announce NIW I-140 processing times or approval rates. An approved petition alone does not make a green card immediately available. USCIS EB-2 guidance · USCIS visa availability
What if my priority date equals the cutoff?
It does not meet that chart's date condition. DOS requires a priority date earlier than the cutoff. For example, an EB-2 ROW priority date of December 31, 2024 is before the January 1, 2025 Final Action cutoff; January 1, 2025 itself is not. Meeting the date condition is not automatic approval. DOS chart instructions
What should applicants watch next?
- Use Dates for Filing for October employment-based and family-sponsored preference filings, and recheck current USCIS instructions before filing an I-485.
- Compare your actual priority date and chargeability against that chart; check remaining filing requirements separately.
- Watch later DOS availability notices and the November bulletin. One month's movement does not establish next month's direction.
- For deeper EB-2 context, use the October NIW country analysis. India's reopening is still 256 days earlier than its July 15, 2014 May cutoff, while China moves beyond its September position. May DOS bulletin · DOS October bulletin · Official October PDF
Related reading: October EB-2 NIW confirmed analysis · Earlier India prediction, preserved as historical content · Earlier China/ROW prediction, preserved as historical content.
Download the comparison data
Download every September-to-October cutoff and movement calculation (CSV). The file identifies each chart, category, chargeability area and official source.
Methodology and data notes
Cutoff movement is October minus September in calendar days. Current and Unavailable are statuses, not dates; changes involving either have no numeric day difference. Historical comparisons describe published monthly charts, not every later availability announcement.
Visa Bulletin dates concern immigrant-visa availability. PetitionMatcher case records, community reports, approval outcomes and processing times describe different processes and do not explain or predict visa allocation.
Sources
- Department of State: October 2026 Visa Bulletin
- Official October 2026 bulletin PDF
- Department of State: September 2026 Visa Bulletin
- Official September 2026 bulletin PDF
- USCIS October 2026 adjustment-of-status filing chartsUSCIS selected Dates for Filing for October 2026 employment-based and family-sponsored preference filings. Verified October 8, 2026; recheck current USCIS instructions before filing.
- USCIS visa availability and priority dates
- USCIS EB-2 and National Interest Waiver guidance
- Department of State Visa Bulletin archive
Links to external sources are provided for reference and do not imply any endorsement of PetitionMatcher.
Related articles
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October 2026 Visa Bulletin for EB-2 NIW: India, China and Rest of WorldConfirmed EB-2 dates, exact September changes and practical answers about ROW retrogression, filing and NIW approval.
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EB-2 India: The October 2026 forecast, archivedOur September 5 pre-release forecast for EB-2 India. Read the confirmed October analysis for the published cutoffs.
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EB-2 China and Rest of World: The October 2026 forecast, archivedOur September 5 pre-release forecast for EB-2 China and Rest of World. Read the confirmed October analysis for the published cutoffs.
By PetitionMatcher Research Team
Updated
The PetitionMatcher Research Team analyzes public immigration case records, including USCIS Administrative Appeals Office decisions and publicly reported outcomes. PetitionMatcher provides informational content and is not a law firm.
PetitionMatcher provides informational content and is not a law firm. Nothing here is legal advice, and using the site does not create an attorney-client relationship.