October 2026 Visa Bulletin: What Changed for EB-1 and EB-2
Fiscal year 2027 opens with a new cutoff for worldwide EB-2, EB-1 still current for most countries, and USCIS accepting the Dates for Filing chart.
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin is the first of the government’s 2027 fiscal year. For founders and talent on the EB-1A and EB-2 NIW paths, four things changed.
What changed
- EB-1 stays current for most of the world. If you were born outside China and India, there is no queue: an approved EB-1A can move straight to the green card.
- EB-1 India moves forward. Its final action date advances to February 1, 2023. China holds at July 1, 2023.
- Worldwide EB-2 retrogresses. EB-2 for the rest of the world, including Mexico and the Philippines, now has a final action cutoff of January 1, 2025.
- EB-2 India and China move. India becomes available again at November 1, 2013, and China advances to October 1, 2021.
| Category | Final action | Filing date |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 · rest of world | Current | Current |
| EB-1 · China | Jul 1, 2023 | Jul 1, 2024 |
| EB-1 · India | Feb 1, 2023 | Jul 1, 2024 |
| EB-2 · rest of world | Jan 1, 2025 | Mar 15, 2026 |
| EB-2 · China | Oct 1, 2021 | Jan 1, 2023 |
| EB-2 · India | Nov 1, 2013 | Jan 15, 2015 |
“Rest of world” includes Mexico and the Philippines. Your place in line is set by your priority date, usually the date your I-140 was filed, and by your country of birth, not your citizenship.
Who it affects
The change that matters most is EB-2. If you were born outside China and India and your EB-2 NIW priority date is after January 1, 2025, your green card can’t be approved this month, even with an approved I-140. EB-1A applicants from most countries are not affected.
What to do now
- File your I-485 if you can. USCIS is accepting the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based adjustment of status in October. With an EB-2 priority date before March 15, 2026, you can file now and get work and travel permits while you wait.
- Look at EB-1A. If your record supports it, EB-1A is current for most countries and can be faster than waiting in EB-2.
- Check again next month. Cutoffs move every month and can retrogress further as the fiscal year goes on.
Dates are from the October 2026 Visa Bulletin. They change monthly, and USCIS decides each month which chart it accepts. Check the current bulletin before you act.