What Changed This Month
- India EB-2: Final Action restored from unavailable to Nov 1, 2013
- Rest of World EB-2: retrogressed from current to Jan 1, 2025 — it had been current since April 2026
- India EB-1: Final Action advanced +4 months to Feb 1, 2023
- China EB-2: Final Action advanced +1 month
- USCIS confirmed Chart B (Dates for Filing) for both EB and FB — up from Chart A in September
EB Final Action Dates — October 2026
| Category | India | China | Mexico | Philippines | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Feb 1, 2023 ▲ +4mo | Jul 1, 2023 — | Current — | Current — | Current — |
| EB-2 | Nov 1, 2013 — | Oct 1, 2021 ▲ +1mo | Jan 1, 2025 — | Jan 1, 2025 — | Jan 1, 2025 — |
| EB-3 | Jan 1, 2014 — | Jan 8, 2022 — | May 15, 2024 ▼ 4mo | Aug 15, 2023 — | May 15, 2024 ▼ 4mo |
| Category | India | China | Mexico | Philippines | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Jul 1, 2024 ▲ +7mo | Jul 1, 2024 ▲ +7mo | Current — | Current — | Current — |
| EB-2 | Jan 15, 2015 — | Jan 1, 2023 ▲ +12mo | Mar 15, 2026 — | Mar 15, 2026 — | Mar 15, 2026 — |
| EB-3 | Jan 15, 2015 — | Apr 1, 2024 ▲ +27mo | Aug 1, 2024 — | Jan 1, 2024 — | Aug 1, 2024 — |
FB Final Action Dates — October 2026
| Category | India | China | Mexico | Philippines | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jan 22, 2020 — | Jan 22, 2020 — | Sep 8, 2008 ▲ +8mo | Nov 1, 2013 ▲ +6mo | Jan 22, 2020 — |
| F2A | Sep 22, 2026 ▲ +1mo | Sep 22, 2026 ▲ +1mo | Mar 22, 2026 ▲ +7mo | Sep 22, 2026 ▲ +1mo | Sep 22, 2026 ▲ +1mo |
| F2B | Aug 22, 2019 — | Aug 22, 2019 — | May 15, 2010 ▲ +15mo | Oct 1, 2013 ▲ +4mo | Aug 22, 2019 — |
| F3 | Oct 22, 2014 — | Oct 22, 2014 — | Jul 1, 2001 — | Jul 22, 2006 ▲ +5mo | Oct 22, 2014 — |
| F4 | Dec 15, 2006 ▲ +1mo | Oct 22, 2011 — | Apr 22, 2001 — | May 15, 2008 ▲ +9mo | Oct 22, 2011 — |
| Category | India | China | Mexico | Philippines | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Feb 1, 2020 — | Feb 1, 2020 — | Dec 1, 2008 — | Apr 22, 2015 — | Feb 1, 2020 — |
| F2A | Current — | Current — | Current — | Current — | Current — |
| F2B | Sep 1, 2019 — | Sep 1, 2019 — | Mar 22, 2011 ▲ +10mo | Oct 1, 2014 ▲ +12mo | Sep 1, 2019 — |
| F3 | Nov 1, 2014 — | Nov 1, 2014 — | Dec 1, 2002 ▲ +17mo | Oct 22, 2006 ▲ +2mo | Nov 1, 2014 — |
| F4 | Feb 1, 2007 ▲ +2mo | Nov 1, 2011 — | Apr 30, 2001 — | Mar 22, 2009 ▲ +12mo | Nov 1, 2011 — |
Movement and Retrogression This Month
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin was released on September 29, 2026 — just two days before it took effect, and the latest release in at least eight years with no official explanation given. See why the release date is so inconsistent → for the historical pattern and the leading theories.
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin opens FY2027 with the restoration of India EB-2's Final Action date, which had gone unavailable in August and stayed there through September. The restart lands at Nov 1, 2013 — real progress from having no date at all, but about 8 months short of the July 15, 2014 date India EB-2 held as recently as spring. Applicants who could file under that spring date and lost eligibility during the retrogression are still not back to where they were.
USCIS has confirmed Chart B (Dates for Filing) for October 2026 — for both employment-based and family-based categories, a switch from September's Chart A. Filing Dates run ahead of Final Action dates for India EB-1, India EB-2, India EB-3 and 9 other categories, so applicants in those categories can file I-485 using the more permissive Filing Date even though Final Action hasn't caught up. The October 2026 Final Action also produced a smaller advance for India EB-1 (+4 months to Feb 1, 2023) and China EB-2 (+1 month).
Rest of World EB-2 is back under a cutoff. This category — which covers every country not individually listed (i.e. not India, China, Mexico, or the Philippines) — had a cutoff through March 2026, went current in April 2026, and stayed current through September. October 2026 reimposes a Final Action cutoff of January 1, 2025. The State Department's own note in the bulletin says the Rest of World retrogressions "are necessary to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits." Its Filing Date is still a generous March 15, 2026, so Chart B being active this month means most affected applicants can still file — but Final Action approvals for this category are no longer automatic. This matters for India too: see why Rest of World demand decides how far India and China can move →
On the family-based side, 12 categories advanced this month. Mexico F2B saw the largest move at +15 months.
See how October 2026 affects your wait
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Analyze My Wait →Data sourced from the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for October 2026. For informational purposes only — not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation.