Understanding the October 2026 U.S. Visa Bulletin: A New Fiscal Year, New Green Card Dates, and What They Mean for India

The U.S. Department of State has published its Visa Bulletin for October 2026 (Number 19, Volume XI). It is the first bulletin built on Fiscal Year 2027 visa numbers. The bulletin is dated 4 September 2026, and its allocations reflect demand received by that date.

Here is a plain-language breakdown of what it says, followed by a section written specifically for Indian applicants.

The Big Picture: Why Is There a Green Card Waiting Line?

The U.S. law sets annual limits on green cards:

• Family-sponsored: a minimum annual limit of 226,000.

• Employment-based: a worldwide level of at least 140,000.

• Per-country limit: no single country can receive more than 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based limits, which works out to 25,620.

The bulletin names four countries where demand exceeds this limit: China (mainland born), India, Mexico and the Philippines. This is why applicants born in these countries often face separate, longer waiting lines.

What the Bulletin Says Is New This Month

The Department of State explains that, with the arrival of FY 2027 visa numbers, both the Dates for Filing and the Final Action Dates have advanced across various immigrant visa categories. It also warns that some employment-based categories for “Rest of World” countries have retrogressed, meaning their cut-off dates moved backward. According to the bulletin, these retrogressions are needed to keep visa issuances within the quarterly and annual limits of FY 2027. The Department says it is monitoring the situation and will make further adjustments if needed.

Two other updates:

• Religious workers: a law signed on 2 September 2026 (H.R. 6500) extends the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category through 11 December 2026. This category follows the same dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories.

• Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. Government employees: a 2023 defence law may affect certain current and former U.S. Government employees abroad, and certain surviving spouses and children, who are applying for these visas. The bulletin advises such applicants to contact the consular section where they filed their Form DS-1884.

How to Read the Charts

The bulletin has two kinds of charts:

• Final Action Dates show when a green card can actually be approved. A visa number is available only if your priority date is earlier than the date listed.

• Dates for Filing show when applicants may begin assembling and submitting documents to the National Visa Center. Again, your priority date must be earlier than the date listed.

“C” means Current, so everyone in that category can proceed regardless of priority date. “U” means Unavailable, so no numbers are being issued.

For adjustment of status inside the U.S., the bulletin says applicants must use the Final Action Dates charts unless USCIS says otherwise on its website. USCIS may announce that the Dates for Filing charts can be used instead, so check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for the current month’s decision.

Job-Based Green Cards: Final Action Dates (October 2026)

Job-Based Green Cards: Dates for Filing (October 2026)

A note on the Other Workers category: by law, the 10,000 annual numbers for this category are reduced to offset NACARA adjustments. For FY 2027, the bulletin says this reduction is limited to approximately 150.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards: Final Action Dates (October 2026)

F2A explained: For October, F2A numbers that are exempt from the per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 22 March 2026. F2A numbers that are subject to the per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries except Mexico, with priority dates from 22 March 2026 up to, but not including, 22 September 2026. All F2A numbers for Mexico are exempt from the per-country limit.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards: Dates for Filing (October 2026)

A Specific Note for Indian Applicants

India is one of the four countries the bulletin lists as oversubscribed, so Indian-born applicants are tracked on their own column in every chart. Here is where that column stands for October 2026.

Job-based categories

• EB-1: the Final Action Date is 1 February 2023, and the Date for Filing is 1 July 2024.

• EB-2: the Final Action Date is 1 November 2013, and the Date for Filing is 15 January 2015.

• EB-3 and Other Workers: the Final Action Date is 1 January 2014 for both, and the Date for Filing is 15 January 2015.

• EB-4 (including Certain Religious Workers): the Final Action Date is 15 December 2022, and the Date for Filing is 1 January 2025.

• EB-5 Unreserved: the Final Action Date is 1 December 2023, and the Date for Filing is 1 May 2024. The Rural, High Unemployment and Infrastructure set-asides are Current for India on both charts.

Family-based categories

• F1, F2B and F3: India’s dates are the same as the “all other areas” dates.

• F2A: the Final Action Date is 22 September 2026, and the Date for Filing is Current.

• F4: India has its own, earlier dates: a Final Action Date of 15 December 2006 and a Date for Filing of 1 February 2007. The “all other areas” F4 dates are 22 October 2011 and 1 November 2011.

What this means for you:

1. Compare your priority date with the India column in the relevant category. You can proceed only if your priority date is earlier than the date listed.

2. Check which chart applies to you. If you are adjusting status inside the U.S., confirm on the USCIS website whether it has directed applicants to use Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing for the month.

3. Remember your family. The bulletin confirms that spouses and children of a principal applicant receive the same status and the same order of consideration when they accompany or follow to join.

4. Keep your documents ready. The bulletin notes that if an annual limit is reached, a category can be made “unavailable” immediately, and no further requests for numbers will be honoured. Dates can also move backward, as the bulletin’s own note on retrogression for some employment-based categories shows.

What You Should Do Next

Check your priority date against the charts above, confirm the applicable chart on the USCIS website, and make sure your documents are ready. Dates can shift from month to month, so review each new bulletin as it is released.

This article is based on information procured from official sources and public portals. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Kindly consult the relevant public authority or an immigration advisor at the Legit Migrant for guidance specific to your circumstances.