October 2026 Visa Bulletin: What Changed and How to Check Your Priority Date

Updated September 30, 2026. The October 2026 Visa Bulletin is the U.S. Department of State’s first bulletin for fiscal year 2027 and was issued September 4, 2026. Filing-chart instructions can change by month, so verify the USCIS chart selection again before submitting Form I-485.

What changed in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin?

The October bulletin opens fiscal year 2027, when a new annual supply of preference immigrant visa numbers becomes available. The Department of State says final-action and filing dates advanced in various categories, while some employment-based dates for countries in the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column moved backward to keep visa issuances within fiscal-year limits. The bulletin lists the FY 2027 per-country limit as 25,620; the September 2026 bulletin listed 28,862 for FY 2026.

Those shifts are not uniform. The table below compares selected Final Action Dates in the September and October bulletins. It is a short sample, not every category or every movement. The date format below is month-day-year for readability; the official bulletin uses day-month-year.

For example, an EB-3 applicant in the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column with a May 1, 2024 priority date is earlier than the October cutoff of May 15, 2024 and meets this date test. A May 15, 2024 priority date is not earlier than the cutoff, so it does not meet the date test. This example only explains the cutoff comparison; filing or approval still depends on the correct chart and all other eligibility requirements.

The family- and employment-based preference tables are for categories subject to annual numerical limits. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens generally are not subject to those preference cutoffs. If your case is in a different immigrant category, confirm which rules and chart apply before using this comparison.

How to check your priority date against the bulletin

1. Find the official priority date. Use the date on the petition notice or the underlying labor-certification record, as applicable. In many family preference cases, the date is when USCIS properly received the Form I-130. For employment cases requiring labor certification, it is generally the date the Department of Labor accepted the labor certification for processing; when no labor certification is required, it is generally the date USCIS properly received the Form I-140. Do not substitute the date a petition was approved or the date you first entered the United States.
2. Identify the exact preference category. Read the approval or receipt notice and supporting case documents. Family categories include F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4. Employment categories include EB-1 through EB-5, with subcategories such as “Other Workers” and EB-5 set-asides. A nearby category may have a different cutoff.
3. Determine the chargeability column. The bulletin separates China-mainland-born, India, Mexico, and the Philippines from “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.” Chargeability is normally based on place of birth, not current residence or citizenship, although limited exceptions can apply, such as certain spouse-based claims. If your birth country and passport country differ, do not select a column based only on your passport.
4. Choose the correct chart for your process. The Department of State publishes both “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing.” If you are applying for adjustment of status inside the United States, check USCIS’s monthly “Adjustment of Status Filing Charts” page to see which chart USCIS permits for the month and category. USCIS can select different charts for family and employment cases. If you are processing through a U.S. consulate, follow the Department of State and National Visa Center instructions; the Dates for Filing chart may tell you when to submit documents after NVC notification, while Final Action Dates control when a visa number can be issued.
5. Compare dates strictly. When the chart shows a cutoff date, your priority date generally must be earlier than that date. “Earlier” is not “the same day.” If the chart says “C,” the category is current for all qualified applicants under that chart; “U” means unavailable. Confirm the bulletin month and chart title before drawing a conclusion.
6. Recheck immediately before acting. Save the official bulletin and the USCIS chart-selection page for the month you plan to file. Check again before sending Form I-485 or responding to NVC because cutoffs can advance, remain unchanged, retrogress, or become unavailable.

Common misunderstandings to avoid

“The new fiscal year makes every category current.”

It does not. New fiscal-year numbers can move dates, but the bulletin still imposes category and country limits. Some October dates advanced, while the bulletin also records retrogression for certain employment categories. Action: compare your own category, chargeability column, and priority date in the October table rather than relying on a general headline.

“If my date is earlier than Dates for Filing, I can always file Form I-485.”

Not necessarily. For adjustment of status, USCIS says which chart can be used for each month; the Department of State bulletin itself instructs applicants to check USCIS. A favorable Dates for Filing cutoff is not permission to file I-485 unless USCIS has selected that chart for the relevant case type. Action: open USCIS’s chart-selection page for October 2026 on the day you intend to file and use the chart it names.

“A current or eligible priority date means approval is guaranteed.”

A current date or a date earlier than the relevant cutoff addresses visa-number availability, not every requirement for adjustment or an immigrant visa. The applicant still needs to meet the applicable petition, admissibility, and process requirements. A date may also retrogress before final action. Action: treat the bulletin as one eligibility check, and verify the rest of the case with the official instructions or qualified counsel.

“Country of chargeability means the country on my passport.”

The State Department says chargeability is normally based on country of birth, not citizenship. Some applicants may qualify to use a spouse’s or, in limited circumstances, a parent’s country of birth. Action: confirm chargeability before using the table, especially if you were born in a country with a separate cutoff.

Quick checklist

• My priority date matches the underlying petition or labor-certification record.
• I selected the correct preference category and any relevant subcategory.
• I checked the right chargeability column, not just my citizenship.
• I identified whether I am using Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing.
• For Form I-485, I verified USCIS’s chart choice for October 2026.
• My priority date is earlier than the cutoff, or the correct chart says “C.”
• I checked again for later updates before filing or taking the next step.

What the October cutoff does—and does not—tell you

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly snapshot of numerically limited immigrant visa availability. It helps applicants understand whether their priority date has reached a particular cutoff and whether they may be able to file or receive a visa number under the applicable rules. It does not predict when a future cutoff will move, guarantee processing speed, or determine every individual eligibility issue. The Department of State’s October bulletin also says it will continue monitoring visa use and may adjust dates as needed to stay within fiscal-year limits.

For a reliable check, use the official October bulletin and the USCIS chart-selection page together. If the case depends on cross-chargeability, retention of an older priority date, a category change, or a filing deadline, review the case record and obtain qualified immigration advice before submitting documents.

Official sources

• U.S. Department of State: October 2026 Visa Bulletin
• U.S. Department of State: September 2026 Visa Bulletin
• Department of State: Visa Bulletin index and current bulletin
• USCIS: Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
• USCIS: Visa Availability and Priority Dates
• U.S. Department of State: Visa glossary, including chargeability