Visa Bulletin

Visa Bulletin for October 2026

Copied from the State Department original as checked on October 1, 2026. State Department original

October 2026 Visa Bulletin summary — how the Final Action Dates moved from last month (all other countries). Employment-based: forward none · back EB-2 Cutoff date imposed, EB-3 about 4 months, EB-3 Other Workers about 3 months. Family-sponsored: forward F2A 31 days · back none. Chart USCIS designated for filing Form I-485 inside the U.S.: employment Dates for Filing · family Dates for Filing.

See the latest bulletin

If you are filing for a green card (Form I-485) inside the United States

USCIS, not the State Department, decides each month which of the two charts you may use to file.

Employment-based: USCIS announced that the Dates for Filing chart applies for October.(Checked against USCIS on October 1, 2026)
Family-sponsored: USCIS announced that the Dates for Filing chart applies for October.(Checked against USCIS on October 1, 2026)

USCIS original

If you will receive an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, the Final Action Dates chart controls: a visa can be issued only when that cell shows "C" or your priority date is earlier than the date shown. The Dates for Filing chart marks when applicants begin to be notified to assemble and submit documents; the actual notice comes case by case.

All other countries — compared with last month

This section uses the "All other countries" column, which covers people born anywhere except mainland China, India, Mexico and the Philippines. The chargeable country is usually the country of birth, with exceptions such as using a spouse's country of birth. If your priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date, a green card can be approved (or an immigrant visa issued) that month. If it is earlier than the Date for Filing, you have reached the point where documents can be submitted; for Form I-485 filed inside the United States, that is true only when USCIS has designated the Dates for Filing chart for that month. "C" means current (no date cutoff). "U" means no numbers are available that month.

At a glance by category

Employment-based · Final Action Dates

Forward: None
No change: EB-1 (C) · EB-4 · Religious Workers · EB-5 Unreserved (C) · EB-5 Rural (C) · EB-5 High Unemployment (C) · EB-5 Infrastructure (C)
Back: EB-2 Cutoff date imposed · EB-3 about 4 months · EB-3 Other Workers about 3 months

Employment-based · Dates for FilingDesignated by USCIS for filing inside the U.S.

Forward: EB-4 about 24 months · Religious Workers about 24 months
No change: EB-1 (C) · EB-5 Unreserved (C) · EB-5 Rural (C) · EB-5 High Unemployment (C) · EB-5 Infrastructure (C)
Back: EB-2 Cutoff date imposed · EB-3 Cutoff date imposed · EB-3 Other Workers about 2 months

Family-sponsored · Final Action Dates

Forward: F2A 31 days
No change: F1 · F2B · F3 · F4
Back: None

Family-sponsored · Dates for FilingDesignated by USCIS for filing inside the U.S.

Forward: None
No change: F1 · F2A (C) · F2B · F3 · F4
Back: None

Employment-basedDates in ( ) are from last month's (September) bulletin.
Category	Final Action Dates		Dates for Filing
1st (EB-1)	C(C)	No change	C(C)	No change
2nd (EB-2)	Jan 1, 2025(C)	Cutoff date imposed	Mar 15, 2026(C)	Cutoff date imposed
3rd (EB-3) skilled workers and professionals	May 15, 2024(Sep 1, 2024)	Back about 4 months	Aug 1, 2024(C)	Cutoff date imposed
3rd — Other Workers	Jan 1, 2022(Apr 1, 2022)	Back about 3 months	Jun 1, 2022(Aug 1, 2022)	Back about 2 months
4th (EB-4)	Dec 15, 2022(Dec 15, 2022)	No change	Jan 1, 2025(Jan 1, 2023)	Forward about 24 months
Certain Religious Workers	Dec 15, 2022(Dec 15, 2022)	No change	Jan 1, 2025(Jan 1, 2023)	Forward about 24 months
5th — Unreserved	C(C)	No change	C(C)	No change
5th — Set aside: Rural	C(C)	No change	C(C)	No change
5th — Set aside: High Unemployment	C(C)	No change	C(C)	No change
5th — Set aside: Infrastructure	C(C)	No change	C(C)	No change

Family-sponsoredDates in ( ) are from last month's (September) bulletin.
Category	Final Action Dates		Dates for Filing
F1 · Unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens	Jan 22, 2020(Jan 22, 2020)	No change	Feb 1, 2020(Feb 1, 2020)	No change
F2A · Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of permanent residents	Sep 22, 2026(Aug 22, 2026)	Forward 31 days	C(C)	No change
F2B · Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents	Aug 22, 2019(Aug 22, 2019)	No change	Sep 1, 2019(Sep 1, 2019)	No change
F3 · Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens	Oct 22, 2014(Oct 22, 2014)	No change	Nov 1, 2014(Nov 1, 2014)	No change
F4 · Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens	Oct 22, 2011(Oct 22, 2011)	No change	Nov 1, 2011(Nov 1, 2011)	No change

Full charts by country of birth

Employment-based — Final Action Dates
Category	All other countries	China (mainland born)	India	Mexico	Philippines
1st (EB-1)	C	Jul 1, 2023	Feb 1, 2023	C	C
2nd (EB-2)	Jan 1, 2025	Oct 1, 2021	Nov 1, 2013	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025
3rd (EB-3) skilled workers and professionals	May 15, 2024	Jan 8, 2022	Jan 1, 2014	May 15, 2024	Aug 15, 2023
3rd — Other Workers	Jan 1, 2022	Oct 1, 2019	Jan 1, 2014	Jan 1, 2022	Jan 1, 2022
4th (EB-4)	Dec 15, 2022	Dec 15, 2022	Dec 15, 2022	Dec 15, 2022	Dec 15, 2022
Certain Religious Workers	Dec 15, 2022	Dec 15, 2022	Dec 15, 2022	Dec 15, 2022	Dec 15, 2022
5th — Unreserved	C	Dec 1, 2016	Dec 1, 2023	C	C
5th — Set aside: Rural	C	C	C	C	C
5th — Set aside: High Unemployment	C	C	C	C	C
5th — Set aside: Infrastructure	C	C	C	C	C

Employment-based — Dates for FilingDesignated by USCIS for filing inside the U.S.
Category	All other countries	China (mainland born)	India	Mexico	Philippines
1st (EB-1)	C	Jul 1, 2024	Jul 1, 2024	C	C
2nd (EB-2)	Mar 15, 2026	Jan 1, 2023	Jan 15, 2015	Mar 15, 2026	Mar 15, 2026
3rd (EB-3) skilled workers and professionals	Aug 1, 2024	Apr 1, 2024	Jan 15, 2015	Aug 1, 2024	Jan 1, 2024
3rd — Other Workers	Jun 1, 2022	Oct 1, 2020	Jan 15, 2015	Jun 1, 2022	Jun 1, 2022
4th (EB-4)	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025
Certain Religious Workers	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025
5th — Unreserved	C	Mar 1, 2021	May 1, 2024	C	C
5th — Set aside: Rural	C	C	C	C	C
5th — Set aside: High Unemployment	C	C	C	C	C
5th — Set aside: Infrastructure	C	C	C	C	C

Family-sponsored — Final Action Dates
Category	All other countries	China (mainland born)	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1 · Unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens	Jan 22, 2020	Jan 22, 2020	Jan 22, 2020	Sep 8, 2008	Nov 1, 2013
F2A · Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of permanent residents	Sep 22, 2026	Sep 22, 2026	Sep 22, 2026	Mar 22, 2026	Sep 22, 2026
F2B · Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents	Aug 22, 2019	Aug 22, 2019	Aug 22, 2019	May 15, 2010	Oct 1, 2013
F3 · Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens	Oct 22, 2014	Oct 22, 2014	Oct 22, 2014	Jul 1, 2001	Jul 22, 2006
F4 · Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens	Oct 22, 2011	Oct 22, 2011	Dec 15, 2006	Apr 22, 2001	May 15, 2008

Family-sponsored — Dates for FilingDesignated by USCIS for filing inside the U.S.
Category	All other countries	China (mainland born)	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1 · Unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens	Feb 1, 2020	Feb 1, 2020	Feb 1, 2020	Dec 1, 2008	Apr 22, 2015
F2A · Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of permanent residents	C	C	C	C	C
F2B · Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents	Sep 1, 2019	Sep 1, 2019	Sep 1, 2019	Mar 22, 2011	Oct 1, 2014
F3 · Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens	Nov 1, 2014	Nov 1, 2014	Nov 1, 2014	Dec 1, 2002	Oct 22, 2006
F4 · Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens	Nov 1, 2011	Nov 1, 2011	Feb 1, 2007	Apr 30, 2001	Mar 22, 2009

Need to confirm whether your date is in?

Whether your priority date falls within this month's dates, and what to prepare first if it does, depends on the case.

Request a consultation

These charts copy the dates from the State Department original and are not legal advice. Footnotes and conditions in the original are not reproduced here, so check the State Department and USCIS originals before you file.