The U.S. Department of State has issued the Visa Bulletin October 2026, the first bulletin of fiscal year 2027. Most family-based dates moved forward or held steady, but several employment-based dates for most countries moved backward. Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP broke down the changes in its October 2026 visa bulletin analysis, noting that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has opened the pipeline for the new fiscal year even though the gains are small.
This matters if you are tracking a priority date for adjustment of status or an immigrant visa interview abroad. The new cutoff dates decide who can file or move forward right now. Below, we walk through what changed, who it affects, and what to do next. New to priority dates? Our guide on how to read the visa bulletin covers the basics.
1. What Changed in the October 2026 Bulletin
2. Who Is Affected by the New Bulletin
3. What To Do Now for Pending Cases
4. Common Mistakes When Reading the Bulletin
5. How Vega & Associates Can Help
6. FAQs About the Visa Bulletin
What the Visa Bulletin October 2026 Changed
The State Department’s bulletin covers both the employment-based and family-based charts for October 2026. Some final action dates moved forward, some held steady, and several employment-based dates moved backward (retrogressed). You can check the full chart on the State Department’s visa bulletin page, which posts every month’s cutoff dates.
Employment-Based Category Movement
Employment-based movement was mixed. For most countries, including Mexico, the EB-2 final action date moved back from “Current” to Jan. 1, 2025. EB-3 professionals and skilled workers from most countries and Mexico moved back to May 15, 2024, and EB-3 other workers to Jan. 1, 2022. The bulletin says these steps keep visa issuances within fiscal year 2027 limits. Exact cutoff dates vary by category and country of birth, so check the chart directly rather than relying on a general summary. If your priority date now falls before the published cutoff, you may be able to file for adjustment of status or continue with immigrant visa processing.
Family-Based Category Movement
Family-based dates moved forward or held steady this month; none moved backward. Again, the amount of movement differs by category and country. For most countries, F2A (spouses and children of green card holders) advanced one month to Sept. 22, 2026. F1, F2B, F3 and F4 held at Jan. 22, 2020, Aug. 22, 2019, Oct. 22, 2014 and Oct. 22, 2011. Mexico moved more: F1 advanced to Sept. 8, 2008, F2A to March 22, 2026, F2B to May 15, 2010 and F4 to April 22, 2001, while F3 Mexico held at July 1, 2001. Confirm your own category against the published chart before making a decision.
Key Takeaway: The Visa Bulletin October 2026 opens fiscal year 2027 with family-based dates moving forward or holding, while EB-2 and EB-3 moved back for most countries. Dates vary by category and country, so check your own line on the official chart before you assume your case is ready to move.
Who Is Affected by the New Visa Bulletin
This bulletin affects anyone with a pending family or employment immigrant petition and an earlier priority date. It applies whether you are adjusting status inside the United States or waiting on an immigrant visa interview through the National Visa Center.
Adjustment of Status Applicants
If you are inside the United States, USCIS uses the bulletin’s dates to decide who can file Form I-485 this month. For October 2026, USCIS lets both family-based and employment-based applicants use the Dates for Filing chart. That chart lists F2A as current, F2B Mexico at March 22, 2011, F3 Mexico at Dec. 1, 2002, EB-2 for most countries at March 15, 2026, and EB-3 for most countries at Aug. 1, 2024. Our step-by-step guide to filing Form I-485 explains how this filing works. A priority date that now falls before the cutoff may mean your case is ready to move.
Immigrant Visa Applicants Abroad
If you are processing your case abroad, the National Visa Center uses the same dates to schedule interviews. Family members petitioned by a U.S. citizen or green card holder should check their category letter and country of birth against the new chart. The bulletin does not guarantee a set interview date; it only opens eligibility for the month. Weighing both routes? See adjustment of status vs. consular processing.
What To Do Now for a Pending Case
Start by finding your priority date on your approval notice or receipt. Then compare it to the new chart for your category and country.
Check Your Priority Date
Look at your I-797 notice or your National Visa Center case file for the exact priority date. Match it against the correct chart, since employment and family cases use different tables. If your date is earlier than the new cutoff, you may be able to move forward now.
Gather Your Documents Early
If your category is open, start gathering medical exam results, financial support forms, and civil documents now. The USCIS adjustment of status process page lists the current forms and filing steps. Waiting until the last week of the month can cost you the filing window if dates move again next month.
Pro Tip: Set a calendar reminder for the third week of each month. The State Department usually posts the next bulletin a week or more before it takes effect, so an early look gives you time to gather documents before your filing window opens.
Common Mistakes When Reading the Visa Bulletin
The bulletin is easy to misread if you are not familiar with its two separate charts.
Confusing Final Action and Filing Dates
The bulletin lists both a Final Action Date chart and a Dates for Filing chart. USCIS announces each month which chart applies to adjustment of status filers. Using the wrong chart can lead you to file too early or miss a window you actually qualify for.
Missing USCIS Deadlines After Filing
Once you file, USCIS deadlines still apply for any request for more evidence. A complete filing matters, since USCIS can now deny some cases without issuing an RFE. Treat the bulletin as the start of the process, not the end of it.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Assuming a forward move in one category means every related category moved the same way. The October 2026 bulletin shows uneven movement across employment and family lines, so check your specific category and country rather than a general headline.
How Vega & Associates Can Help
Reading a visa bulletin chart is one thing. Knowing what it means for your specific case is another.
Reviewing Your Case Against New Dates
We review your priority date, category, and country of birth against the October 2026 chart to see exactly where your case stands. This step matters most for clients who have waited through several bulletins already.
Preparing Your Adjustment of Status Filing
If your category is open, we help prepare and file your adjustment of status paperwork correctly the first time. You can see examples of how we have handled similar cases on our recent immigration case results page.
What This Means for You: If your priority date falls before the new cutoff, you have a real opportunity this month. If it does not, the movement still signals the pipeline is open for fiscal year 2027. Either way, reviewing your exact category and country against the chart is the only way to know where you stand.
The Visa Bulletin October 2026 opens fiscal year 2027 with modest, uneven movement across employment-based and family-based categories. The State Department has not specified further changes beyond this month’s chart, so treat this bulletin on its own terms rather than guessing at next month’s dates.
If you have a pending priority date, check it against the current chart and gather your documents now. Contact the Houston immigration attorney team at Vega & Associates to review your case and plan your next filing step before the next bulletin changes the picture again. This article is general information, not legal advice. Talk to an immigration attorney about your own situation.
Expert Insight from Vega & Associates: Every month, the visa bulletin resets the question for our clients: can you file yet, or do you keep waiting? The October 2026 bulletin moved most family lines forward or held them, but it pushed several employment lines back. We review each client’s priority date against the new chart before advising on next steps, rather than guessing at trends the bulletin itself does not state.
Key Takeaway: The Visa Bulletin October 2026 opens fiscal year 2027 with family dates moving forward and several employment dates moving back. Check your priority date against the new chart, and contact Vega & Associates if you are ready to move your case forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Visa Bulletin October 2026?
The Visa Bulletin October 2026 is the State Department’s first bulletin for fiscal year 2027. It lists cutoff dates for family-based and employment-based green card categories. So, it tells you whether your priority date lets you file for adjustment of status or move forward with an immigrant visa.
Did the October 2026 visa bulletin move forward for everyone?
No. Movement in the October 2026 bulletin is modest and uneven. Most family-based dates moved forward or held steady, while EB-2 and EB-3 dates for most countries, including Mexico, moved backward. Check your own category and country of birth on the bulletin’s chart, since one line moving does not mean every line moved the same way.
How do I find my priority date on the visa bulletin?
Find your priority date on your I-797 receipt notice or National Visa Center file. Then match it to the right bulletin chart. The bulletin splits employment-based and family-based cases into separate charts, so pick the one for your petition before comparing dates.
What should I do if my category is not open yet in this visa bulletin?
Keep your documents ready and watch next month’s bulletin for further movement. The State Department has not said when your category opens, so avoid guessing. Confirm your priority date is accurate, so you can act fast once the bulletin moves again.
Can Vega & Associates help with the October 2026 visa bulletin?
Yes. Vega & Associates reviews your priority date against the current bulletin and advises on filing. We help you prepare adjustment of status paperwork or immigrant visa documents once your category opens. Contact our Houston team to confirm where your case stands under this bulletin.
Step-by-Step Process
10 Steps to Check Your Visa Bulletin Priority Date
1. Find your priority date on your approval or receipt notice.
2. Identify whether your case is employment-based or family-based.
3. Open the correct chart in the Visa Bulletin October 2026.
4. Match your category and country of birth to the chart.
5. Compare your priority date against the published cutoff date.
6. Confirm whether USCIS uses Final Action or Filing Dates.
7. Gather civil documents, medical results, and support forms early.
8. Contact Vega & Associates to review your specific case.
9. Prepare your adjustment of status or immigrant visa filing.
10. Watch next month’s bulletin in case dates move again.
Quick Reference: What Is the Visa Bulletin October 2026?
The Visa Bulletin October 2026 is the State Department’s monthly chart for fiscal year 2027. It lists cutoff dates for family-based and employment-based green card categories. Each category and country has its own date. So, your priority date must fall before the listed cutoff for you to file or move forward. USCIS and the National Visa Center both rely on this same bulletin each month.
Additional Resources
• Meet the attorneys who help clients track priority dates on our legal team page, where you can see each attorney’s background.
• Read what past clients say about their experience on our client reviews page, including cases involving family petitions.
• Learn more about our Houston-based practice on our about Vega & Associates page, including how long the firm has served immigrant families.
• Find our Houston office address and hours on our office location page.
Reviewed by Adan Vega, Board-Certified Immigration Attorney, Founding Partner · Updated
About the author
Board-Certified Immigration Attorney, Founding Partner · Texas Board-Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1985); Admitted, U.S. Supreme Court (2004); Admitted, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1980); J.D., The University of Texas at Austin School of Law (1979); B.A., Rice University (1976); Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (1982); Texas Super Lawyers — Thomson Reuters (2004); Special Service Award — Migration and Refugee Services, United States Catholic Conference
Adan G. Vega is a Board-Certified Immigration Attorney and the founding partner of Vega & Associates, PLLC in Houston, Texas. He has practiced immigration and nationality law exclusively for more than 45 years, making him one of the longest-serving immigration attorneys in Houston. He earned a B.A. from Rice University in 1976 and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 1979. In 1985 the Texas Board of Legal Specialization awarded him a Certificate of Special Competence in Immigration and Nationality Law, authorizing the title Board Certified Specialist. He is admitted to practice before the Texas state courts, the EOIR Immigration Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court, and has presented oral argument in the Fifth Circuit on three occasions, including one published opinion.
On August 23, 1988, Vega testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law, on the effects of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. He has served as immigration legal counsel to foreign governments in the United States, including the governments of Mexico and El Salvador, and to multinational companies on employment-based immigration.
A member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1982, he co-chaired the AILA Texas Chapter Conference in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2004, and has lectured on immigration law at AILA conferences and at the University of Texas. He authored the Guide of United States History and Government in 1989. The Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Catholic Conference presented him with a special service award for outstanding commitment and dedicated service to newcomers.
Vega was a founder and initial director of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 1984, served as President of Consejo Hispano from 1987 to 1988, and has served as special immigration legal counsel, board director, vice president and president of the Cámara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston. He has provided pro bono immigration services to Texas's indigent community throughout his career. He has been recognized as a Top Texas Lawyer by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) since 2004. He represents individuals, families and businesses before USCIS, the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
