In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, EB-2 for all countries retrogresses from Current to January 1, 2025 except China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines. It's the first bulletin of Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, which began on October 1, 2026.
Not every category went backward. EB-2 India and EB-5 India Unreserved reopened after being unavailable in September, EB-1 India advanced, and EB-1 for other countries stayed Current. This guide covers each change, what it means for your priority date, and what to check before you file.
Final Action Dates decide when a green card can be approved. A visa is available when your priority date is earlier than the date shown in the bulletin, or the bulletin shows your category as Current.
In the August and September bulletin, the State Department warned that EB-2 could retrogress or become unavailable. October is where this warning played out for most countries.
EB-1 remains Current for other countries, Mexico, and the Philippines. China is at July 1, 2023, and India advanced from October 15, 2022 to February 1, 2023.
The September bulletin warned that EB-1 India could become unavailable before the fiscal year ended. With FY 2027 numbers available, the category moved forward instead.
What this means for EB-1 applicants: An India-chargeable EB-1A petitioner needs a priority date earlier than February 1, 2023, and a China-chargeable petitioner needs one earlier than July 1, 2023.
EB-2 for 'Rest of World' countries have retrogressed from Current to January 1, 2025. The State Department says that these retrogressions are necessary to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits.
EB-2 India reopened at November 1, 2013 after being unavailable in September. That cut-off is almost 13 years behind, so most India-chargeable EB-2 applicants still need to wait. EB-2 China advanced one month to October 1, 2021. See our EB-2 India priority date guide for the longer backlog.
What this means for EB-2 NIW applicants: The EB-2 NIW is an EB-2 category, so these cut-offs apply. Because no labor certification is involved, the priority date is the date USCIS received your I-140 petition. For most countries, a petition received on or after January 1, 2025 is now outside the Final Action cut-off.
EB-3 for most countries moved back from September 1, 2024 to May 15, 2024. India is at January 1, 2014, China advanced seven days to January 8, 2022, and the Philippines advanced 14 days to August 15, 2023.
Other Workers also moved back for most countries, from April 1, 2022 to January 1, 2022.
EB-5 Unreserved India reopened at December 1, 2023 after being unavailable in September. China holds at December 1, 2016, and other countries remain Current.
EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers hold at December 15, 2022. The bulletin also extends the Certain Religious Workers category through December 11, 2026.
Dates for Filing show when applicants may be allowed to start the process. This chart moved differently from Final Action Dates, with EB-1 India and China advancing while EB-2 and EB-3 for most countries went backward.
A new fiscal year brings a fresh supply of visa numbers, and the categories held back in September, including EB-2 India, EB-5 India, and EB-1 India, moved as a result. If your priority date is within the cut-off for your category, we'd expect the early months of FY 2027 to move rather smoothly for you, and that makes it a sensible time to have your filing ready.
The exception is the categories that went backward on day one. EB-2 and EB-3 for most countries retrogressed at the start of the year, and the bulletin ties that to FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits. If your priority date is close to those cut-offs, it may be ideal to plan for movement in either direction.
EB-1 is still Current for most countries while EB-2 for most countries is at January 1, 2025. That gap is why some applicants search for a different category that fits their record. Qualifying for a higher category depends on meeting its criteria, not on the bulletin.
Beyond Border specializes in O-1A, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, L-1, and H-1B petitions, with a 98% approval rate across more than 4,000 petitions filed and a 30 day filing guarantee once all supporting documents are received.
If you want to explore other options or need counsel on the most efficient strategy, you can speak with our team to review your options.
EB-2 for most countries moved from Current to January 1, 2025. EB-2 India and EB-5 India Unreserved also reopened after being unavailable in September.
Yes, for most countries. The Final Action Date is now January 1, 2025 and the Dates for Filing date is March 15, 2026. India and China have their own EB-2 dates.
Yes, for most countries, Mexico, and the Philippines. China is at July 1, 2023 and India is at February 1, 2023.
Yes, but at a Final Action Date of November 1, 2013. Only priority dates earlier than that date are within the cut-off.
USCIS requires applicants to use the “Final Action Dates” for adjustment of status applications.
The bulletin covers immigrant visa (green card) numbers, and the O-1 is a nonimmigrant visa, so it has no priority date. If you later pursue a green card, the bulletin applies to the category you choose.
Address: 4 W 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, United States
Email: info@beyondborderglobal.com
