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The U.S. Department of State released its Visa Bulletin for October 2026. This monthly update is important if you're waiting for a green card because it shows how long you might have to wait.
Every month, USCIS announces whether applicants already living in the United States should file their "adjustment of status" applications based on the "Final Action Dates" or the "Dates for Filing." For October, applicants must follow the “Dates for Filing” chart for both family-based and employment-based categories.
October marks the start of fiscal year 2027, bringing a new allocation of immigrant visa numbers. The State Department said this led to forward movement in several categories, while some employment-based categories for most countries retrogressed to keep visa issuance within annual limits.
October 2026 Visa Bulletin Summary
Family-based: Several family-based categories see forward movement in October, while most filing dates remain unchanged. Mexico advances in the F-2B and F-3 categories, while the Philippines moves forward in F-2B, F-3, and F-4. India also sees modest movement in F-4. F-1 and F-2A remain unchanged across all countries.
Employment-based: October brings major changes as the new fiscal year begins. Most notably, EB-2 retrogresses for most countries, Mexico, and the Philippines, moving from “Current” to a March 15, 2026 final action date. EB-3 also moves back one month for most countries and Mexico. At the same time, several heavily backlogged categories advance significantly: China and India see substantial forward movement, India’s EB-2 and EB-5 Unreserved categories become available again, and EB-4 advances by more than two years across all countries.
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If you’re already familiar with those terms, scroll down to our summary of key developments or to the filing category that’s most relevant to you:
Family-based categories
- F-1: Unmarried Children (Age 21 and Older) of U.S. Citizens
- F-2A: Spouses and Unmarried Children (Under Age 21) of U.S. Green Card Holders
- F-2B: Unmarried Children (Age 21 or Older) of U.S. Green Card Holders
- F-3: Married Children of U.S. Citizens
- F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens
Employment-based categories
- EB-1: Extraordinary People, Outstanding Researchers and Professors, and Multinational Executives and Managers
- EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders
- EB-3: Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers
- EB-4: Special Immigrants
- EB-5: Investors
Family-Based Green Card Backlogs
F-1: Unmarried Children (Age 21 and Older) of U.S. Citizens
F-2A: Spouses and Unmarried Children (Under Age 21) of U.S. Green Card Holders
F-2B: Unmarried Children (Age 21 or Older) of U.S. Green Card Holders
F-3: Married Children of U.S. Citizens
F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens
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Employment-Based Green Card Backlogs
EB-1: Extraordinary People, Outstanding Researchers and Professors, and Multinational Executives and Managers
EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders
EB-3: Skilled Worker or Professional
EB-3: Other Worker
EB-4: "Special Immigrants" Category
EB-5: "Investors" Category
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What is my priority date? This is usually the date your green card application petition was initially filed. Check your paperwork or consult with an immigration attorney if you’re unsure.
What if my country has a backlog? Some countries have longer wait times than others due to high demand. This means cut-off dates may move slower and sometimes even go backward (this is called retrogression).
How long will I have to wait? Unfortunately, the Visa Bulletin can’t give you an exact answer. The wait time depends on your category and country backlog. It’s helpful to track patterns in your category over multiple months to get a better sense.
The Visa Bulletin can be confusing. We’ve put together a guide to help you understand it and find your priority date: How to Read the Visa Bulletin.
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