The U.S. Department of State released its October 2026 Visa Bulletin. It marks the start of the new fiscal year. The bulletin shows substantial cut-off date advancements for Chinese and Indian employment-based applicants. It also shows targeted retrogression for other worldwide categories. On September 29, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed it will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications. It will use the Dates for Filing chart throughout October 2026.
This decision allows qualifying foreign nationals to submit Form I-485 petitions. Their priority dates must be earlier than the listed cutoffs. This operational update brings critical changes for employment-based categories. It reopens previously unavailable lines that stalled during the final months of the previous fiscal year.
Key Employment-Based Cut-Off Adjustments
The October 2026 bulletin introduces notable shifts across various employment-based preference tiers. It offers renewed filing pathways for high-demand countries:
- India EB-2: Reopened with a Final Action Date of November 1, 2013, and a filing cutoff date of January 15, 2015.
- India EB-5 Unreserved: Reopened at a Final Action Date of December 1, 2023.
- China EB-3: Experienced significant forward movement in its filing chart. It advanced by over two years to April 1, 2024, for skilled workers and professionals.
- All Other Countries EB-2: Shifted from current to a Final Action Date of January 1, 2025, with a filing cutoff of March 15, 2026.
The USCIS Filing Charts for October 2026
Applicants must carefully distinguish between the two charts in the monthly Visa Bulletin. These are the Application Final Action Dates chart and the Dates for Filing chart. USCIS authorized the use of the Dates for Filing chart for October 2026. However, approval of Form I-485 still requires visa availability under the Final Action Dates chart.
An applicant is eligible to file their adjustment of status paperwork if their priority date is earlier than the date listed on the October 2026 filing chart. They must also meet all other eligibility criteria. Final permanent residency cannot be granted until the priority date passes the Final Action threshold.
Recommended Steps for Eligible Applicants
Immigration legal experts advise prospective filers to act quickly and systematically during the October 2026 filing window. Essential preparation steps include:
- Confirming exact priority dates, preference categories, and countries of chargeability from approved Form I-140 petitions.
- Gathering required civil documents, including long-form birth certificates and certified police records.
- Scheduling the Form I-693 medical examination with a USCIS-designated civil surgeon.
- Coordinating with sponsoring employers regarding concurrent filings or valid Supplement J confirmations.
Applicants should monitor official USCIS announcements for any subsequent updates regarding chart availability for the remainder of the quarter.
