Summary: The U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for October 2026, released in late September, is the first bulletin of fiscal year 2027. Several family-based final action dates advanced for Mexico, the Philippines and India, while some employment-based categories for most countries moved backward.
What happened
The monthly Visa Bulletin shows which priority dates can move forward for family- and employment-based green cards. The State Department said that with new fiscal year 2027 visa numbers, dates “have advanced across various immigrant visa categories,” but some employment categories for “Rest of World” countries retrogressed to stay within quarterly and annual limits.
Compared with September 2026, the family-based final action dates changed as follows:
- F1 (unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens): Mexico moved to September 8, 2008 and the Philippines to November 1, 2013. All other countries stayed at January 22, 2020.
- F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents): moved to September 22, 2026 for most countries; Mexico moved to March 22, 2026.
- F2B (unmarried adult children of permanent residents): Mexico moved to May 15, 2010 and the Philippines to October 1, 2013. Others stayed at August 22, 2019.
- F3 (married children of U.S. citizens): the Philippines moved to July 22, 2006. Others stayed at October 22, 2014, and Mexico at July 1, 2001.
- F4 (siblings of adult U.S. citizens): India moved to December 15, 2006, Mexico to April 22, 2001 and the Philippines to May 15, 2008. Others stayed at October 22, 2011.
In the “dates for filing” chart for families, F2A is current for all countries. Other October filing dates include F1 at February 1, 2020, F2B at September 1, 2019, F3 at November 1, 2014 and F4 at November 1, 2011 for most countries.
On the employment side, the October final action date for the second preference (EB-2) for most countries is January 1, 2025, and for the third preference (EB-3) it is May 15, 2024. The bulletin also says a law signed September 2, 2026 (H.R. 6500) extends the religious worker (SR) category through December 11, 2026.
Who is affected
The bulletin matters to relatives waiting on approved family petitions and to employment-based applicants, whether they will finish through consular processing abroad or adjustment of status in the United States. USCIS announces on its own website each month which chart it accepts for adjustment filings.
What it means
Movement in the October bulletin is mostly modest for families, with the biggest jumps for Mexico and the Philippines. Dates can move forward, stand still or retrogress from month to month. As of October 18, the State Department had not yet published the November 2026 Visa Bulletin.
Source: U.S. Department of State – Visa Bulletin for October 2026 (Number 19, Volume XI) (published September 29, 2026)
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This article is a news summary for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law changes often and every case is different; only a legal consultation with Attorney James Betzold can determine how this news applies to you.