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October 2026 Visa Bulletin Brings Mixed Green Card News
The United States released its October 2026 Visa Bulletin for people waiting for green cards.
India has separate, longer waiting lines because it has many applicants.
Some Indian employment categories improved in October.
EB-2 and unreserved EB-5 received new final action dates after being marked unavailable in September.
EB-1 also moved forward slightly.
EB-3, Other Workers, and EB-4 did not move.
Some family-based categories changed only a little.
People applying inside the United States must wait for USCIS to say which chart they can use.
Applicants should check the latest instructions and seek qualified legal advice for their individual cases.
India’s EB-2 final action date moved from unauthorized to November 1, 2013, while unreserved EB-5 moved to December 1, 2023.
India’s EB-1 final action date advanced from October 15, 2022, to February 1, 2023.
India’s EB-3 and Other Workers dates stayed at January 1, 2014, while EB-4 remained at December 15, 2022.
Employment-based Dates for Filing advanced significantly for EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers, moving to January 1, 2025.
USCIS had not yet announced which October chart adjustment-of-status applicants may use as of September 29, 2026.
- Who
- Indian green-card applicants and applicants in family- and employment-based immigrant visa categories.
- What
- The U.S. State Department issued its October 2026 Visa Bulletin, changing several cutoff dates and restoring final action dates for India’s EB-2 and unreserved EB-5 categories.
- Where
- The United States immigration visa system, including applications processed through USCIS and the National Visa Center.
- When
- The bulletin applies to October 2026, the first month of fiscal year 2027; USCIS’s chart decision was still pending on September 29, 2026.
- Why
- The dates reflect available immigrant visa numbers and are set to keep visa issuances within fiscal-year quarterly and annual limits.
Key facts
- Bulletin period
- October 2026, the first month of fiscal year 2027
- India EB-2
- Final action date: November 1, 2013; changed from unauthorized in September
- India EB-5 unreserved
- Final action date: December 1, 2023; changed from unauthorized in September
- India EB-1
- Final action date advanced to February 1, 2023, from October 15, 2022
- India EB-3 and Other Workers
- Unchanged at January 1, 2014
- India EB-4
- Final action date remained December 15, 2022
- Per-country limit
- Fiscal year 2027 limit listed at 25,620, down from 28,862 for fiscal year 2026
Quotes
Murthy Law Firm
Immigration law firm commenting on the October 2026 Visa Bulletin
“The October bulletin’s Dates for Filing chart (Chart B) is distinct from its final action chart. USCIS decides which chart adjustment-of-status applicants may use each month. As of September 29, 2026, USCIS has not indicated which chart applicants may use for October 2026, so readers should check USCIS’s Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin before filing Form I-485. A priority date generally must be earlier than the applicable listed cutoff date”
financialexpress.com
“The October 2026 Visa Bulletin marks the start of fiscal year 2027, with renewed visa availability for EB2 India and unreserved EB5 India, while several employment-based cutoff dates for countries other than China and India move backward”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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