The U.S. Department of State (DOS) published the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, marking the beginning of fiscal year 2027 and the release of a new annual allocation of employment-based and family-based immigrant visa numbers. One of the most significant developments for applicants born in India is the renewed availability of EB-2 visa numbers after the category remained unavailable under the Final Action Dates chart during July, August, and September 2026.
For October 2026, USCIS confirmed that all employment-based and family-based adjustment of status applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart. Accordingly, applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may file their Form I-485 in October 2026 if their priority date is earlier than the applicable date listed for their preference category and country of chargeability. Find a summary of the October visa numbers availability below:
Family-Based Categories
USCIS has again instructed family-based applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart. Mexico and the Philippines are the most affected by the October changes:
F-1 (unmarried sons and daughters, 21 or older, of U.S. citizens): Filing dates didn’t change. Final action dates advance for Mexico to September 8, 2008, and for the Philippines to November 1, 2013.
F-2A (spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders): Filing remains current for all countries. The final action date moves to March 22, 2026 for Mexico and September 22, 2026 for everyone else.
F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, 21 or older, of green card holders): Filing dates advance for Mexico to March 22, 2011, and for the Philippines to October 1, 2014. Final action dates move to May 15, 2010 for Mexico and October 1, 2013 for the Philippines.
F-3 (married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens): Filing dates advance for Mexico to December 1, 2002, and for the Philippines to October 22, 2006. The Philippines final action date moves to July 22, 2006.
F-4 (brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens): India’s filing date advances to February 1, 2007, and its final action date to December 15, 2006. The Philippines moves to March 22, 2009 for filing and May 15, 2008 for final action. Mexico’s final action date edges up to April 22, 2001. Any country or chart not mentioned above saw no change from September.
Employment-Based Categories
EB-1: For dates for filing, India and China moved ahead seven months to July 1, 2024.
EB-2: For dates for filing, India remains at January 15, 2015. China advances by one year to January 1, 2023. All other countries retrogressed to March 15, 2026. For India, EB-2 had been unavailable under the Final Action Dates chart since July 2026 after the FY 2026 per-country limit was reached. With the start of the new fiscal year in October, EB-2 India becomes available again with a Final Action Date of November 1, 2013. Applicants with priority dates before that date can now have their cases adjudicated.
EB-3: For dates for filing, India remains at January 15, 2015, while China advances by more than two years from January 8, 2022, to April 1, 2024. All other countries, including Mexico, were current last month and now move to August 1, 2024.
EB-3 Other Workers: For dates for filing, India remains at January 15, 2015. China advances by one year to October 1, 2020. The Philippines remains at January 1, 2024. All other countries, including Mexico, are at August 1, 2024.
EB-4: For dates for filing, all countries advance by two years to January 1, 2025. This date also applies to certain religious workers, with the program extended by Congress through December 11, 2026.
Religious workers (EB-4) from India and the Rest of World. The Dates for Filing date for certain religious workers advances two full years, from January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2025. The final action date stays at December 15, 2022. Religious workers use the same dates as the rest of the EB-4 category.
There is also an important deadline to keep in mind. H.R. 6500, signed into law on September 2, 2026, extends the non-minister special immigrant religious worker program only through December 11, 2026. Although Congress has extended the program on multiple occasions, future reauthorization is not guaranteed. Accordingly, eligible non-minister religious workers with a priority date earlier than January 1, 2025 should consider filing before the December deadline rather than relying on further Congressional action. Ministers are authorized under a separate, permanent provision and are not affected by this expiration date.
EB-5 (unreserved): For dates for filing, China advances by four years to March 1, 2021, and India remains at May 1, 2024. The rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure set-asides remain current for all countries.
Get Your Medical Exam Before Filing
If your priority date is current under the Dates for Filing chart, we recommend scheduling your immigration medical examination as soon as possible. USCIS generally requires adjustment of status applicants to submit a properly completed and sealed Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with Form I-485. An application submitted without the required Form I-693 may be rejected by USCIS.
Because appointments with USCIS-designated civil surgeons can take time to schedule (and additional testing or vaccination records may be required), waiting to complete the medical examination can jeopardize your ability to file while your priority date is current. We strongly recommend beginning this process promptly rather than waiting until the end of the filing window.
A USCIS designated civil surgeon must complete your immigration medical examination and Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. The civil surgeon will review your medical history and vaccination records, perform the required examination and testing, and determine whether you meet the applicable vaccination requirements. Once the examination is complete, the civil surgeon will provide the completed Form I-693 in a sealed envelope, which should remain sealed and be submitted with your adjustment of status application. You can find a designated USCIS civil surgeon using the link below:
https://www.uscis.gov/tools/find-a-civil-surgeon.
How ILBSG Can Help
Filing opportunities can change significantly from one Visa Bulletin to the next. EB-2 India, for example, moved from unavailable in September to available again in October, while retrogression in other categories demonstrates how quickly filing opportunities can narrow or disappear.
ILBSG will help eligible applicants take advantage of the October filing window. Our team can confirm your priority date and eligibility to file, prepare your adjustment of status application, and ensure the required supporting documentation is ready for timely submission. If your priority date is current under the applicable Dates for Filing chart, please contact our office so we can begin preparing your case.
Immigration rules, filing procedures, and visa availability can change quickly. Working with an experienced immigration attorney ensures that you receive guidance based on the most current requirements and developments and that your case is properly prepared when a filing opportunity becomes available. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, we will make sure you get the right advice.
As always, Immigration USA actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.