The October 2026 Visa Bulletin, which opens fiscal year 2027, updates priority‑date cutoffs for both employment‑based and family‑based immigrant visa categories. The bulletin shows renewed availability for EB‑2 India and an unreserved EB‑5 India category, while several other categories move backward.
Employment‑Based Categories (Final Action Chart – Chart A)
| Preference | Country | New Cutoff Date |
|---|---|---|
| EB‑1 (First Preference) | India | 01 Feb 2023 (advances) |
| China | 01 Jul 2023 (unchanged) | |
| All other chargeability areas | Current | |
| EB‑2 (Second Preference) | India | 01 Nov 2013 (available again) |
| China | 01 Oct 2021 (advances) | |
| All other countries (including Mexico, Philippines) | 01 Jan 2025 (retrogresses from current) | |
| EB‑3 (Third Preference – skilled workers & professionals) | China | 08 Jan 2022 (advances) |
| India | 01 Jan 2014 (unchanged) | |
| Philippines | 15 Aug 2023 (advances) | |
| All other countries | 15 May 2024 (retrogresses) | |
| EB‑3 Other Workers | China | 01 Oct 2019 (advances) |
| India | 01 Jan 2014 (unchanged) | |
| Philippines | 01 Jan 2022 (advances) | |
| All other countries | 01 Jan 2022 (retrogresses) | |
| EB‑4 (Fourth Preference) | All countries | 15 Dec 2022 (unchanged) |
| Note: Congress extended the certain religious workers program through 11 Dec 2026; the extension should be independently verified. | ||
| EB‑5 (Fifth Preference – unreserved) | India | 01 Dec 2023 (available again) |
| China | 01 Dec 2016 (unchanged) | |
| All other countries | Current | |
| EB‑5 (Rural, high‑unemployment, infrastructure set‑aside) | All countries | Current |
Family‑Based Categories (Final Action Chart – Chart A)
| Category | Country | New Cutoff Date |
|---|---|---|
| FB‑2A (Spouses & children of LPRs) | All countries except Mexico | 22 Sep 2026 (advances) |
| Mexico | 22 Mar 2026 (advances) | |
| FB‑2B (Spouses & children of LPRs – second preference) | All countries except Mexico & Philippines | 22 Aug 2019 (unchanged) |
| Mexico | 15 May 2010 (advances) | |
| Philippines | 01 Oct 2013 (advances) |
The Dates for Filing chart (Chart B) lists FB‑2A as current for all countries, but that does not indicate immediate visa availability under the final‑action chart.
Adjustment‑of‑Status Filing Chart (Chart B)
The October bulletin provides a separate Dates for Filing chart, but USCIS has not yet announced whether adjustment‑of‑status applicants may use Chart A (final action) or Chart B (dates for filing) for October 2026. Applicants should consult USCIS’s “Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin” before filing Form I‑485. A priority date must be earlier than the cutoff date shown on the chart that USCIS authorizes for the month.
Source article: www.murthy.com
