A new fiscal year means a fresh pool of immigrant visa numbers, and October delivers exactly the kind of reset many applicants have been waiting for.

For Indian nationals, this is the best news in months. Two categories that were completely unavailable in September are open again.

For applicants from most other countries, the picture is more mixed. Several employment-based categories moved backward as the State Department works to keep issuances within the new annual limits.

At Garvish Immigration Law Group, we break this down every month so you know exactly where you stand.

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin has two charts that matter:

Final Action Dates (Chart A): the date your green card can actually be approved. Your priority date must be earlier than the listed date for your case to move forward.

Dates for Filing (Chart B): the date you are allowed to file for Adjustment of Status, even if a green card number is not yet available.

Which Chart Applies in October

USCIS decides each month which chart adjustment of status applicants must use, and that determination is posted at uscis.gov/visabulletininfo.

Check that page before you file. Do not assume this month works the same way last month did.

Why This Month Is Different

October 1 marks the start of fiscal year 2027, which means a brand new allocation of immigrant visa numbers.

That reset is why several categories that hit their ceiling in September are open again. It is also why some categories moved backward.

Here is the part worth understanding: the worldwide employment-based limit for FY2027 returns to the statutory baseline of at least 140,000. In FY2026 that figure was unusually high at 186,317. A lower overall pool means a lower per-country limit as well, which drops from 28,862 to 25,620.

The State Department has said directly that the retrogressions in several Rest of World employment categories are necessary to keep issuances within FY2027 quarterly and annual limits.

The Headlines This Month

  • EB-2 India reopened. After being unavailable for the final stretch of FY2026, the category has a final action date again.
  • EB-5 Unreserved India reopened. Same story. Applicants in this category can move forward again.
  • EB-1 India advanced. The category moves forward after being at risk of becoming unavailable.
  • China posted strong gains on the filing chart. EB-3 and EB-5 Unreserved both jumped substantially.
  • Several Rest of World categories retrogressed. EB-2 and EB-3 moved off current or backward for most countries, Mexico, and the Philippines. This affects a large group of applicants who were current just last month.
  • Family categories advanced broadly, particularly for Mexico and the Philippines.

Final Action Dates

Employment-Based Green Cards

  • EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Managers)
    • China: No movement
    • India: Advances approximately three and a half months to February 1, 2023
    • All other countries: Remain current
  • EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals, National Interest Waivers)
    • China: Advances 1 month to October 1, 2021
    • India: Reopens after being unavailable, now at November 1, 2013
    • All other countries: Moved from current to January 1, 2025
  • EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals)
    • China: Advances 1 week to January 8, 2022
    • India: No movement
    • Philippines: Advances 2 weeks to August 15, 2023
    • All other countries: Retrogress approximately 3 and a half months to May 15, 2024
  • EB-3 (Other Workers)
    • China: Advances 5 months to October, 1 2019
    • India: No movement
    • Philippines: Advances 1 month to January 1, 2022
    • All other countries: Retrogress 3 months to January 1, 2022
  • EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants)
    • All countries: No movement, remains at December 15, 2022
  • EB-4 (Certain Religious Workers)
    • All countries: No movement, remains at December 15, 2022
  • EB-5 (Set-Aside Categories: Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure)
    • All countries including China and India: Remain current
  • EB-5 (Unreserved)
    • China: No movement
    • India: Reopens after being unavailable, now at December 1, 2023
    • All other countries: Remain current

Family-Sponsored Green Cards

  • F-1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. Citizens)
    • Philippines: Advances 6 months to November 1, 2013
    • Mexico: Advances approximately 6 months to September 8, 2008
    • All Others (including China and India): No movement
  • F-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents)
    • Mexico: Advances 7 months to March 22, 2026
    • All other countries (including China, India, Philippines): Advances one month to September 22, 2026
  • F-2B (Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Permanent Residents)
    • Philippines: Advances 4 months to October 1, 2013
    • Mexico: Advances 15 months to May 15, 2010
    • All Others (including China and India): No movement
  • F-3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines: Advances 5 months to July 22, 2006
    • All Others (including China, India, and Mexico): No movement
  • F-4 (Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines: Advances approximately 9 months to May 15, 2008
    • India: Advances 1 month and a half to December 15, 2006
    • Mexico: Advances 2 weeks to April 22, 2001
    • All Others (including China): No movement

Dates for Filing

Employment-Based Green Cards

  • EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Managers)
    • China and India: Advance 7 months to July 1, 202
    • All other countries, Mexico, Philippines: Remain current
  • EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals, National Interest Waivers)
    • China: Advances 1 year to January 1, 2023
    • India: No movement
    • All other countries: Retrogress from current to March 15, 2026 
  • EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals)
    • China: Advances 2 years and 3 months to April 1, 2024
    • India & Philippines: No movement
    • All other countries: Retrogress from current to August 1, 2024 
  • EB-3 (Other Workers)
    • China: Advances 1 year to October 1, 2020
    • India: No movement
    • All other countries: Retrogress 2 months to June 1, 2022 
  • EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants)
    • All countries: Advance 2 years to January 1, 2025
  • EB-4 (Certain Religious Workers)
    • All countries: Advance 2 years to January 1, 2025 
  • EB-5 (Set-Aside Categories)
    • All countries: Remain current
  • EB-5 (Unreserved)
    • China: Advances 4 years to March 1, 2021
    • India: No movement
    • All other countries: Remain current

Family-Sponsored Green Cards

  • F-1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. Citizens)
    • All countries: No movement
  • F-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents)
    • All countries: Remain current
  • F-2B (Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Permanent Residents)
    • Philippines: Advances 1 year to October 1, 2014
    • Mexico: Advances 10 months to March 22, 2011
    • All Others (including China and India): No movement
  • F-3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines: Advances approximately 2 and a half months to October 22, 2006
    • Mexico: Advances approximately 1 year & 5 months to December 1, 2002
    • All Others (including China and India): No movement, remains at November 1, 2014
  • F-4 (Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines: Advances 1 year to March 22, 2009
    • India: Advances approximately 6 weeks to February 1, 2007
    • All Others (including China & Mexico): No movement

A Note on Religious Workers

The Certain Religious Workers (SR) category was extended through December 11, 2026 under legislation signed on September 2, 2026.

If you have a case in this category, that date matters. Congressional action would be required to extend it further.

Our Guidance to You

  • If you are an Indian national in EB-2 or EB-5 Unreserved, check your priority date now. These categories were closed in September and are open again. If your date is current, this is the moment to move.
  • If you are in EB-2 or EB-3 chargeable to the Rest of World, Mexico, or the Philippines, read the charts carefully. These categories were current in September and are not anymore. If you were planning to file this month based on last month’s position, that plan needs revisiting.
  • If you are a Chinese national, the filing chart moved significantly in your favor. EB-3 and EB-5 Unreserved both made large jumps.
  • If you are family-sponsored, this is a strong month. Mexico and the Philippines saw broad advancement across nearly every category, and F-2A moved forward for everyone.
  • Across the board, check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo before filing.This month’s chart is Dates for Filing

One more thing worth keeping in mind. The State Department has said it is monitoring FY2027 demand continuously and that further adjustments may be necessary. Early in a fiscal year is generally the most favorable window. If your date is current, acting sooner is usually better than waiting.

Stay Connected

We monitor the Visa Bulletin every month and proactively advise our clients on what it means for their case. If you have questions about October or want to plan your next step, Garvish Immigration Law Group is here.

Reach out to us today.