The October Visa Bulletin USCIS applicants rely on is the Department of State’s October 2026 bulletin. It lists the priority-date cutoffs that govern green card filing and approval at the start of fiscal year 2027. For October 2026, USCIS says adjustment-of-status applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart for both family-sponsored and employment-based categories.
What Is the October 2026 Visa Bulletin?
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the Department of State. It shows when immigrant visa numbers are available in each family-sponsored and employment-based preference category, by country of chargeability.
Immigrant visas are numerically limited. The bulletin states a family-sponsored preference minimum of 226,000 and an employment-based worldwide level of at least 140,000. It also states a 7% per-country limit of 25,620. Demand in some categories and countries exceeds supply, so applicants are served in priority-date order. The bulletin lists China (mainland born), India, Mexico, and the Philippines as oversubscribed chargeability areas.
October Visa Bulletin USCIS: What Applicants Need to Know
The Department of State publishes the bulletin, but USCIS decides which chart adjustment-of-status applicants use to file Form I-485 each month.
By default, the bulletin says USCIS applicants use Final Action Dates. USCIS may instead allow the Dates for Filing chart when it determines enough visas are available. For October 2026, USCIS has designated Dates for Filing for both categories. Do not assume this carries over to later months, because USCIS can switch charts.
Consular processing works differently. Applicants abroad follow Department of State and National Visa Center instructions. The Dates for Filing chart indicates when applicants may submit documents to the National Visa Center.
Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing
- Dates for Filing show when you may submit your application or documents. For USCIS filers, this applies only when USCIS permits that chart.
- Final Action Dates show when a visa number is available for final approval.
October 2026 Family-Based Visa Bulletin
The family-sponsored preference categories are:
- F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F2A: Spouses and children of permanent residents
- F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of permanent residents
- F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens
Find the row for your category and the column for your country of chargeability, which is usually your country of birth, with exceptions. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents) are not subject to these preference limits.
Each cell shows Dates for Filing / Final Action Date, as published in the October 2026 bulletin.
| Category | All Other Areas | China (mainland) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
| F1 | 01FEB20 / 22JAN20 | 01FEB20 / 22JAN20 | 01FEB20 / 22JAN20 | 01DEC08 / 08SEP08 | 22APR15 / 01NOV13 |
| F2A | C / 22SEP26 | C / 22SEP26 | C / 22SEP26 | C / 22MAR26 | C / 22SEP26 |
| F2B | 01SEP19 / 22AUG19 | 01SEP19 / 22AUG19 | 01SEP19 / 22AUG19 | 22MAR11 / 15MAY10 | 01OCT14 / 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 01NOV14 / 22OCT14 | 01NOV14 / 22OCT14 | 01NOV14 / 22OCT14 | 01DEC02 / 01JUL01 | 22OCT06 / 22JUL06 |
| F4 | 01NOV11 / 22OCT11 | 01NOV11 / 22OCT11 | 01FEB07 / 15DEC06 | 30APR01 / 22APR01 | 22MAR09 / 15MAY08 |
October 2026 Employment-Based Visa Bulletin
The employment-based categories are:
- EB-1: Priority workers
- EB-2: Advanced-degree professionals and persons of exceptional ability
- EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and “Other Workers”
- EB-4: Certain special immigrants
- EB-5: Investors
Employment-based cutoffs vary widely by country. Applicants chargeable to India and China-mainland often face different dates than the rest of the world. The same Dates for Filing / Final Action format applies below.
| Category | All Other Areas | China (mainland) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
| EB-1 | C / C | 01JUL24 / 01JUL23 | 01JUL24 / 01FEB23 | C / C | C / C |
| EB-2 | 15MAR26 / 01JAN25 | 01JAN23 / 01OCT21 | 15JAN15 / 01NOV13 | 15MAR26 / 01JAN25 | 15MAR26 / 01JAN25 |
| EB-3 | 01AUG24 / 15MAY24 | 01APR24 / 08JAN22 | 15JAN15 / 01JAN14 | 01AUG24 / 15MAY24 | 01JAN24 / 15AUG23 |
| Other Workers | 01JUN22 / 01JAN22 | 01OCT20 / 01OCT19 | 15JAN15 / 01JAN14 | 01JUN22 / 01JAN22 | 01JUN22 / 01JAN22 |
| EB-4 | 01JAN25 / 15DEC22 | 01JAN25 / 15DEC22 | 01JAN25 / 15DEC22 | 01JAN25 / 15DEC22 | 01JAN25 / 15DEC22 |
EB-5 has its own sub-categories. Unreserved EB-5 is current for most countries, with dates for China-mainland (01MAR21 / 01DEC16) and India (01MAY24 / 01DEC23). The rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure set-asides are current for all countries.
The bulletin also notes that H.R. 6500, signed September 2, 2026, extends the Certain Religious Workers (SR) category through December 11, 2026. SR uses the same cutoff dates as other EB-4 categories.
How to Check Whether Your Priority Date Is Current
- Identify your category. Use your approved petition (such as I-130 or I-140) to find your preference category.
- Determine your country of chargeability. This is usually your country of birth, though spouses and children may sometimes be charged to a principal applicant’s country.
- Find your row and column in the correct chart, using the tables above or the official bulletin.
- Compare your priority date with the cutoff. Yours must be earlier than the listed date, unless the cell says “C.”
- Confirm which chart USCIS allows this month on the USCIS adjustment-of-status filing charts page.
- Read the filing instructions. For adjustment of status, review Form I-485 instructions. For consular processing, follow National Visa Center guidance.
What Happens When Your Priority Date Becomes Current?
It depends on the chart. If your date is current on the Dates for Filing chart and USCIS allows it, you may be eligible to file Form I-485. If you are consular processing, you may be able to submit documents to the National Visa Center.
If your date is current on the Final Action Dates chart, a visa number may be available for approval. Even then, USCIS or the consulate must still find you eligible. Medical exams, admissibility, and processing steps all matter.
What If Your Priority Date Is Not Current?
- Check each new Visa Bulletin and USCIS’s monthly chart guidance.
- Keep your approval notices, receipts, and priority-date evidence organized.
- Do not assume your cutoff will advance by a predictable amount. Dates can hold or retrogress, and the Department of State says it monitors categories continually and may adjust.
- Review your options with a qualified attorney if your circumstances change, such as a job change, marriage, or a child aging out.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Reading the Visa Bulletin
- Mixing up the charts. Dates for Filing is not Final Action Dates.
- Using the wrong category. F2A and F2B, or EB-2 and EB-3, are easy to confuse.
- Overlooking country-specific columns. India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines have their own cutoffs.
- Assuming “current” means approved. It does not.
- Relying on last month’s chart. USCIS’s chart designation can change from one month to the next.
How Orange Law Can Help With Immigration Questions
Visa Bulletin charts are general. Your case depends on facts the charts cannot show. Orange Law and attorney Karan Joshi can help you understand priority-date rules and discuss immigration options that may apply to your situation, from filing questions to next steps if your date is not yet current.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the October 2026 Visa Bulletin released?
The Department of State usually publishes the bulletin in the weeks before the month it covers. The October 2026 edition was available by late September 2026.
How do I check my priority date in the October Visa Bulletin?
Find your category row and country column, then compare your priority date with the cutoff. Your date must be earlier than the listed date unless the cell says “C.”
What is the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?
Dates for Filing indicate when you may submit an application. Final Action Dates indicate when a visa number is available for approval.
Which chart should I use for adjustment of status in October 2026?
USCIS says to use the Dates for Filing chart for both family-sponsored and employment-based filings. Check USCIS before filing, since guidance can change.
Where can I find the October 2026 family-based visa bulletin dates?
In Section 4 of the official bulletin. Section 4.A is Final Action Dates and 4.B is Dates for Filing.
Where can I find the October 2026 employment-based visa bulletin dates?
In Section 5 of the same bulletin, with the same A/B structure.
Does a current priority date guarantee green card approval?
No. You must still meet eligibility and admissibility requirements, and a visa number must be available for final approval.
What should I do if my priority date is not current?
Monitor future bulletins, keep your documents in order, and seek case-specific guidance if your circumstances change.
Conclusion
The October Visa Bulletin USCIS applicants follow gives a snapshot of where cutoffs stand at the start of fiscal year 2027. Knowing which chart applies, and what “current” really means, helps you plan realistically.
Not sure how the October 2026 Visa Bulletin affects your green card timeline? Orange Law can help you understand the relevant priority-date rules and discuss the immigration options that may apply to your situation. Contact Orange Law to discuss your questions.