October 2026 Employment-Based Visa Bulletin Updates
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released its Visa Bulletin for October 2026.
Below is a summary of the employment-based updates, compared with the September 2026 Bulletin.
The first bulletin of fiscal year 2027 brings a mix of forward movement and retrogression compared with September. EB-2 India is available again, but EB-2 for all other countries, Mexico, and the Philippines moves from current to a January 1, 2025 final-action cutoff. EB-3 final-action dates also retrogress for those chargeability areas.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED FINAL ACTION DATES
EB-1
All others – remains Current
China – remains July 1, 2023
India – Advances 3 months and 17 days to February 1, 2023
Mexico – remains Current
Philippines – remains Current
EB-2
All others – Retrogresses from Current to January 1, 2025
China – Advances 1 month to October 1, 2021
India – Advances from Unavailable to November 1, 2013
Mexico – Retrogresses from Current to January 1, 2025
Philippines – Retrogresses from Current to January 1, 2025
EB-3
All others – Retrogresses 3 months and 17 days to May 15, 2024
China – Advances 7 days to January 8, 2022
India – remains January 1, 2014
Mexico – Retrogresses 3 months and 17 days to May 15, 2024
Philippines – Advances 14 days to August 15, 2023
USCIS has confirmed that employment-based adjustment-of-status applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart to determine eligibility to file Form I-485 in October 2026, if otherwise eligible. Final Action Dates continue to govern visa issuance and final approval.
EARLY ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS (AOS) FILING DATES
USCIS permits employment-based applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart for October 2026. The following filing cutoffs cover EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 professionals and skilled workers; applicants must also meet all other adjustment-of-status requirements.
|
Employment-based |
All others |
China (mainland-born) |
India |
Mexico |
Philippines |
|
EB-1 |
C |
01JUL24 |
01JUL24 |
C |
C |
|
EB-2 |
15MAR26 |
01JAN23 |
15JAN15 |
15MAR26 |
15MAR26 |
|
EB-3 |
01AUG24 |
01APR24 |
15JAN15 |
01AUG24 |
01JAN24 |
Dates shown as cutoffs require a priority date earlier than the listed date; “C” means the category is current. The October Dates for Filing chart determines whether an otherwise eligible applicant may file Form I-485, not whether the application can be finally approved.
KEY TERMS
Final Action Dates: Determine when an immigrant visa number is available for issuance or final approval of an adjustment-of-status application. A listed cutoff requires a priority date earlier than that date.
Dates for Filing / Early Filing Dates: Determine when an otherwise eligible applicant may file Form I-485 if USCIS authorizes use of this chart, as it has for employment-based filings in October 2026. Filing does not itself mean that a visa is available for final approval.
Current (“C”): Visa numbers are available, or filing is permitted under the applicable chart, regardless of priority date; other eligibility requirements still apply.
If you have questions please reach out.
