Visa Bulletin October 2026: India, China & Rest of World
Every cutoff date from the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, with the change from last month — both Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing, for employment-based and family-sponsored categories. Transcribed from the U.S. Department of State and checked against the official text.
By category: EB-1 · EB-2 · EB-3 — each with India-first history and pace. All categories over time: Visa Bulletin history.
Employment-based · Final Action Dates · October 2026
| Category | India | China (mainland-born) | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1Extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, multinational managers | Feb 1, 2023 ▲ Advanced 3 months 17 days | Jul 1, 2023 — No change | Current |
| EB-2Advanced degree or exceptional ability, incl. National Interest Waiver (NIW) | Nov 1, 2013 ▲ Recovered from Unavailable | Oct 1, 2021 ▲ Advanced 1 month | Jan 1, 2025 ▼ Retrogressed from Current |
| EB-3Skilled workers and professionals | Jan 1, 2014 — No change | Jan 8, 2022 ▲ Advanced 7 days | May 15, 2024 ▼ Retrogressed 3 months 17 days |
| EB-3 Other WorkersOther (unskilled) workers | Jan 1, 2014 — No change | Oct 1, 2019 ▲ Advanced 5 months | Jan 1, 2022 ▼ Retrogressed 3 months |
| EB-4Special immigrants | Dec 15, 2022 — No change | Dec 15, 2022 — No change | Dec 15, 2022 — No change |
| Religious WorkersCertain religious workers (EB-4) | Dec 15, 2022 — No change | Dec 15, 2022 — No change | Dec 15, 2022 — No change |
| EB-5 UnreservedInvestors, unreserved visas | Dec 1, 2023 ▲ Recovered from Unavailable | Dec 1, 2016 — No change | Current |
| EB-5 RuralInvestors, set-aside: rural (20%) | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 High UnemploymentInvestors, set-aside: high unemployment (10%) | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 InfrastructureInvestors, set-aside: infrastructure (2%) | Current | Current | Current |
Employment-based · Dates for Filing · October 2026
| Category | India | China (mainland-born) | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1Extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, multinational managers | Jul 1, 2024 ▲ Advanced 7 months | Jul 1, 2024 ▲ Advanced 7 months | Current |
| EB-2Advanced degree or exceptional ability, incl. National Interest Waiver (NIW) | Jan 15, 2015 — No change | Jan 1, 2023 ▲ Advanced 12 months | Mar 15, 2026 ▼ Retrogressed from Current |
| EB-3Skilled workers and professionals | Jan 15, 2015 — No change | Apr 1, 2024 ▲ Advanced 26 months 24 days | Aug 1, 2024 ▼ Retrogressed from Current |
| EB-3 Other WorkersOther (unskilled) workers | Jan 15, 2015 — No change | Oct 1, 2020 ▲ Advanced 12 months | Jun 1, 2022 ▼ Retrogressed 2 months |
| EB-4Special immigrants | Jan 1, 2025 ▲ Advanced 24 months | Jan 1, 2025 ▲ Advanced 24 months | Jan 1, 2025 ▲ Advanced 24 months |
| Religious WorkersCertain religious workers (EB-4) | Jan 1, 2025 ▲ Advanced 24 months | Jan 1, 2025 ▲ Advanced 24 months | Jan 1, 2025 ▲ Advanced 24 months |
| EB-5 UnreservedInvestors, unreserved visas | May 1, 2024 — No change | Mar 1, 2021 ▲ Advanced 48 months | Current |
| EB-5 RuralInvestors, set-aside: rural (20%) | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 High UnemploymentInvestors, set-aside: high unemployment (10%) | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 InfrastructureInvestors, set-aside: infrastructure (2%) | Current | Current | Current |
Family-sponsored · Final Action Dates · October 2026
| Category | India | China (mainland-born) | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1Unmarried sons/daughters (21+) of U.S. citizens | Jan 22, 2020 — No change | Jan 22, 2020 — No change | Jan 22, 2020 — No change |
| F2ASpouses and children (under 21) of green card holders | Sep 22, 2026 ▲ Advanced 1 month | Sep 22, 2026 ▲ Advanced 1 month | Sep 22, 2026 ▲ Advanced 1 month |
| F2BUnmarried sons/daughters (21+) of green card holders | Aug 22, 2019 — No change | Aug 22, 2019 — No change | Aug 22, 2019 — No change |
| F3Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens | Oct 22, 2014 — No change | Oct 22, 2014 — No change | Oct 22, 2014 — No change |
| F4Brothers/sisters of adult U.S. citizens | Dec 15, 2006 ▲ Advanced 1 month 14 days | Oct 22, 2011 — No change | Oct 22, 2011 — No change |
Family-sponsored · Dates for Filing · October 2026
| Category | India | China (mainland-born) | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1Unmarried sons/daughters (21+) of U.S. citizens | Feb 1, 2020 — No change | Feb 1, 2020 — No change | Feb 1, 2020 — No change |
| F2ASpouses and children (under 21) of green card holders | Current | Current | Current |
| F2BUnmarried sons/daughters (21+) of green card holders | Sep 1, 2019 — No change | Sep 1, 2019 — No change | Sep 1, 2019 — No change |
| F3Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens | Nov 1, 2014 — No change | Nov 1, 2014 — No change | Nov 1, 2014 — No change |
| F4Brothers/sisters of adult U.S. citizens | Feb 1, 2007 ▲ Advanced 1 month 17 days | Nov 1, 2011 — No change | Nov 1, 2011 — No change |
"Current" means no backlog: any priority date qualifies. "Unavailable" means no visas can be issued in that category this month. Month-over-month changes are calendar spans computed by this site.
How to read the Visa Bulletin
- Find your category (on your I-140 or I-130 approval notice) and your country of birth column.
- Find your priority date — the date your PERM labor certification was filed, or your I-140 / I-130 if no PERM was needed. See what a priority date is.
- If your priority date is earlier than the Final Action date, a visa number is available and your green card can be approved.
- For filing an I-485 early, compare against whichever chart USCIS designates this month (shown above).
Bulletin archive
Oct 2026 · Sep 2026 · Aug 2026 · Jul 2026 · Jun 2026 · May 2026 · Apr 2026 · Mar 2026 · Feb 2026 · Jan 2026 · Dec 2025 · Nov 2025
FAQ
What are the India employment-based dates in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin?
Final Action dates for India: EB-1 Feb 1, 2023 (Advanced 3 months 17 days); EB-2 Nov 1, 2013 (Recovered from Unavailable); EB-3 Jan 1, 2014 (No change). Changes are measured against the previous month's bulletin.
Which chart does USCIS use for employment-based I-485 filings in October 2026?
USCIS accepts employment-based adjustment of status applications under the Dates for Filing chart for October 2026. USCIS announces this every month, so check again when the next bulletin is released.
What is the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?
Final Action Dates (Chart A) determine when a green card can be approved: your priority date must be earlier than the date listed. Dates for Filing (Chart B) are later dates that let applicants submit their paperwork early — for adjustment of status, only in months when USCIS says it will accept them.
When is the next Visa Bulletin released?
The State Department usually publishes the bulletin for the following month around the middle of the current month, though there is no fixed date. This page updates after each release.
Why are India and China listed separately?
Each country of birth is limited to 7% of the combined family and employment preference visas each year. When demand from one country exceeds that share, the country gets its own, later cutoff date. The column is decided by country of birth (chargeability), not citizenship; a spouse born elsewhere can sometimes let you use their country.
Information only, not legal advice. Sources: October 2026 Visa Bulletin ↗ · all Visa Bulletins (State Department) ↗ · USCIS filing charts ↗.