Update (September 15, 2026): As of September 15, 2026, the State Department had not yet published the official October 2026 Visa Bulletin on travel.state.gov. Any dates discussed below should be treated as expectations, not official figures. We will update this article with the official Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing as soon as the bulletin is released.
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin will provide the first employment-based Green Card cutoff dates of fiscal year 2027. As of September 11, 2026, however, the bulletin has not been published. It is therefore too early to say that EB-2, EB-3, or EB-2 NIW moved forward, retrogressed, or became current.
The latest verified benchmark is the September 2026 Visa Bulletin. New annual visa numbers may become available when the fiscal year begins on October 1, but a quota reset does not automatically make every category current or allow every pending case to be approved. The Department of State must first publish the October charts, and USCIS must separately announce which chart adjustment-of-status applicants may use.
Quick Answer: What Do We Know Now?
• The October 2026 Visa Bulletin is not yet officially available, so unpublished cutoff dates should not be presented as fact.
• Fiscal year 2027 begins on October 1, 2026. A new annual allocation becomes available, but movement depends on demand and category usage.
• NIW does not have a separate Visa Bulletin row. EB-2 NIW applicants use the EB-2 row for their applicable chargeability area.
• For most Turkey-born applicants in the worldwide column, September 2026 showed EB-2 as current and an EB-3 final action date of September 1, 2024.
• Applicants filing Form I-485 in the United States must also check USCIS’s monthly chart-selection notice.
September 2026 Baseline: Final Action Dates
These dates are not predictions for October. They are the latest official employment-based baseline available for comparison. “C” means current, while “U” means visa issuance was unauthorized for that category and chargeability area during the month.
| Category | Worldwide / Turkey | China | India | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-2 | C | Sep. 1, 2021 | U | C |
| EB-3 | Sep. 1, 2024 | Jan. 1, 2022 | Jan. 1, 2014 | Aug. 1, 2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Apr. 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | Jan. 1, 2014 | Dec. 1, 2021 |
September 2026 Baseline: Dates for Filing
The Dates for Filing chart helps identify when document submission may begin in consular processing and, when USCIS permits its use, when an adjustment-of-status application may be filed. Applicants should never assume that USCIS accepts this chart every month.
| Category | Worldwide / Turkey | China | India | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-2 | C | Jan. 1, 2022 | Jan. 15, 2015 | C |
| EB-3 | C | Jan. 8, 2022 | Jan. 15, 2015 | Jan. 1, 2024 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Aug. 1, 2022 | Oct. 1, 2019 | Jan. 15, 2015 | Aug. 1, 2022 |
Why the New Fiscal Year Matters
The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. Employment-based immigrant visas are subject to annual numerical limits. Heavy use near the end of a fiscal year can cause a category to retrogress or become temporarily unavailable. A new annual allocation begins with the new fiscal year.
A quota reset and cutoff-date advancement are not the same event. The Department of State sets dates after reviewing known and anticipated demand, per-country limits, and use across preference categories. October may bring advancement, limited movement, or unchanged dates in particular columns, but none of those outcomes can be stated before publication.
The September bulletin reported a worldwide employment-based preference limit of 186,317 for FY 2026. That figure should not be assumed to be the FY 2027 limit; the new fiscal year’s official numbers require separate confirmation.
What Should EB-2 Applicants Watch?
EB-2 covers members of the professions holding advanced degrees and people of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business. Standard EB-2 cases generally require a job offer and labor certification. A national interest waiver can remove those requirements when USCIS finds the legal standard satisfied.
In September 2026, the worldwide column used by most Turkey-born applicants was current for EB-2 under both charts. The first October question is whether that status continues. China and India have separate dates. India EB-2 was listed as unavailable for final action in September after the FY 2026 per-country limit was reached. Although annual numbers reset on October 1, the October cutoff date remains unknown until the new bulletin is published.
What Should EB-3 Applicants Watch?
EB-3 includes skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. Most EB-3 cases involve employer sponsorship, PERM labor certification, and Form I-140. The Other Workers subcategory may have a separate and older cutoff date.
For most Turkey-born applicants, the September 2026 EB-3 final action date was September 1, 2024, while the Dates for Filing chart was current. Those entries do not mean the same thing. Even when filing is permitted, final Green Card approval generally requires the priority date to be earlier than the applicable Final Action Date and all other eligibility requirements to be met.
How Do NIW Cases Fit Into the Visa Bulletin?
A National Interest Waiver is not a separate immigrant preference category. It is a waiver within EB-2. NIW applicants therefore track the EB-2 row for the applicable chargeability area. Approval of Form I-140 does not by itself issue a Green Card, make an immigrant visa immediately available, grant employment authorization, or create lawful status.
USCIS first reviews eligibility for the underlying EB-2 classification and then applies the three-part Matter of Dhanasar framework: whether the proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, whether the applicant is well positioned to advance it, and whether waiving the job-offer and labor-certification requirements would, on balance, benefit the United States. The Visa Bulletin addresses a different issue – visa-number availability for the final permanent-residence stage.
Final Action Dates Versus Dates for Filing
| Chart | Primary function | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Final Action Dates | Shows visa-number availability for immigrant visa issuance or final Form I-485 approval. | The priority date must be earlier than the cutoff date; “C” means current for numerical availability. |
| Dates for Filing | Shows an earlier threshold for submitting documents or an application. | For Form I-485, it may be used only when USCIS authorizes that chart for the month. |
Five Steps to Check the October Bulletin
1. Find the correct category: EB-2 for standard EB-2 and NIW; EB-3 for professionals and skilled workers; Other Workers where applicable.
2. Identify the correct chargeability column: This is generally tied to the country of chargeability, and case-specific exceptions should be reviewed before relying on a column.
3. Compare the priority date: The priority date must be earlier than the listed cutoff date. A priority date equal to the cutoff date is generally not current.
4. Check the USCIS chart selection if filing in the United States: USCIS decides which chart may be used for Form I-485 each month.
5. Review eligibility and status separately: Visa availability does not establish admissibility, valid status, complete forms, or sufficient evidence.
Common Mistakes
• Looking for a separate Visa Bulletin row for NIW.
• Treating an approved Form I-140 as an approved Green Card.
• Using Dates for Filing for Form I-485 without checking USCIS’s monthly authorization.
• Assuming citizenship automatically determines the correct chargeability column.
• Assuming the start of a new fiscal year automatically makes every category current.
• Relying on social-media predictions as if unpublished October dates were official.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the October 2026 Visa Bulletin been published?
No, not as of the September 11, 2026 verification date. The Department of State lists September 2026 as the current bulletin and the upcoming bulletin as “Coming Soon.”
Will EB-2 and EB-3 automatically become current in the new fiscal year?
No. New annual numbers matter, but cutoff dates also depend on demand, per-country and category limits, and the rate of visa use.
Which row applies to EB-2 NIW?
NIW is a waiver within EB-2, so applicants use the EB-2 row for their applicable chargeability area.
If EB-2 is current, can I file Form I-485 immediately?
Not necessarily. You must check the USCIS chart selection for the month, your priority date, physical presence and status issues, and all other adjustment-of-status requirements.
What if EB-3 is current under Dates for Filing but not under Final Action Dates?
If USCIS authorizes Dates for Filing and all other requirements are met, an applicant may be able to file Form I-485. Final approval still cannot occur until the priority date is current under the applicable Final Action Date.
Does an approved NIW Form I-140 provide work authorization?
No. Filing or approval of Form I-140 alone does not provide employment authorization or lawful status. Work authorization may depend on a separate status or a separately filed application connected to an eligible Form I-485 process.
Conclusion
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin will offer the first view of fiscal year 2027, but as of September 11, 2026, no official EB-2, EB-3, or NIW date movement can be reported. The reliable approach is to understand the September baseline, compare the correct category and chargeability column when October is released, and separately confirm USCIS’s monthly chart selection for adjustment-of-status filings.
Priority date, chargeability, immigration history, and the choice between consular processing and adjustment of status can materially change the analysis. Filing strategy should therefore be reviewed against current official guidance and the applicant’s individual circumstances with a qualified immigration lawyer.
Legal Information Notice
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice for any individual matter. Immigration rules, visa availability, and agency practices may change. No filing outcome can be guaranteed. Confirm current official guidance and obtain advice based on your facts before taking action.
