New Fiscal Year Reopens India EB-2, but Worldwide EB-2 and EB-3 Retrogress
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the first of Fiscal Year 2027, delivers a mixed start to the new year for employment-based applicants. India’s EB-2 category is no longer Unavailable, reopening with a November 1, 2013, final action date, and India EB-1 and China EB-2 each move forward. At the same time, the “All Chargeability Areas” (worldwide) EB-2 category is no longer Current — retrogressing to January 1, 2025, for worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines applicants — and worldwide and Mexico EB-3 retrogress by three and a half months to May 15, 2024. The Department of State describes these worldwide retrogressions as necessary to keep FY 2027 visa issuances within quarterly and annual limits.
In a change from recent months, the USCIS website (www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo) indicates that applicants may use the Dates for Filing (DFF) chart for determining adjustment of status filing eligibility for October 2026. The Final Action Dates (FAD) chart below continues to govern when an adjustment of status application can be approved or an immigrant visa issued.
The table below compares the September and October 2026 Final Action Dates (FAD), and lists the October 2026 Dates for Filing (DFF), for the first three employment-based immigrant categories:
| Category / Region | September 2026 (FAD) | October 2026 (FAD) | Status / Net Difference (FAD) | October 2026 (DFF) |
| EB-1: All Chargeability (ROW) | Current | Current | No change | Current |
| EB-1: China | 01JUL23 | 01JUL23 | No change | 01JUL24 |
| EB-1: India | 15OCT22 | 01FEB23 | Advanced 3.5 months | 01JUL24 |
| EB-1: Mexico | Current | Current | No change | Current |
| EB-1: Philippines | Current | Current | No change | Current |
| EB-2: All Chargeability (ROW) | Current | 01JAN25 | Retrogressed (no longer Current) | 15MAR26 |
| EB-2: China | 01SEP21 | 01OCT21 | Advanced 1 month | 01JAN23 |
| EB-2: India | Unavailable | 01NOV13 | Reopened (no longer Unavailable) | 15JAN15 |
| EB-2: Mexico | Current | 01JAN25 | Retrogressed (no longer Current) | 15MAR26 |
| EB-2: Philippines | Current | 01JAN25 | Retrogressed (no longer Current) | 15MAR26 |
| EB-3: All Chargeability (ROW) | 01SEP24 | 15MAY24 | Retrogressed 3.5 months | 01AUG24 |
| EB-3: China | 01JAN22 | 08JAN22 | Advanced 1 week | 01APR24 |
| EB-3: India | 01JAN14 | 01JAN14 | No change | 15JAN15 |
| EB-3: Mexico | 01SEP24 | 15MAY24 | Retrogressed 3.5 months | 01AUG24 |
| EB-3: Philippines | 01AUG23 | 15AUG23 | Advanced 2 weeks | 01JAN24 |
Key Developments in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin
India EB-2: Available Again After Three Months
With the arrival of FY 2027 visa numbers, India’s EB-2 category returns with a final action date of November 1, 2013, after being “Unavailable” in July, August, and September. India EB-2 applicants with priority dates before that date may once again be approved for adjustment of status or issued an immigrant visa.
The October Dates for Filing chart lists January 15, 2015, for India EB-2.
Worldwide EB-2 Retrogresses from Current
The Department of State’s prior warnings about the broader EB-2 category have materialized in October. The worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines EB-2 final action dates, each Current in September, retrogress to January 1, 2025, for October. Applicants in these chargeability areas with a priority date on or after January 1, 2025, cannot be approved until the date advances.
The corresponding Dates for Filing chart date is March 15, 2026. China EB-2 advances one month to October 1, 2021.
EB-3 Worldwide and Mexico Retrogress; China and Philippines Inch Forward
The worldwide and Mexico EB-3 final action dates retrogress three and a half months, from September 1, 2024, to May 15, 2024. China EB-3 advances one week to January 8, 2022, Philippines EB-3 advances two weeks to August 15, 2023, and India EB-3 is unchanged at January 1, 2014. The EB-3 Other Workers final action date is January 1, 2022, for worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines applicants, October 1, 2019, for China, and January 1, 2014, for India.
On the Dates for Filing chart, EB-3 is August 1, 2024, for worldwide and Mexico applicants, April 1, 2024, for China, January 15, 2015, for India, and January 1, 2024, for the Philippines.
India EB-1: Advances Three and a Half Months
After the State Department cautioned throughout the summer that India EB-1 could become “Unavailable” before the fiscal year ended, the category instead opens FY 2027 with forward movement, advancing from October 15, 2022, to February 1, 2023. China EB-1 is unchanged at July 1, 2023, and EB-1 remains Current for all other chargeability areas.
On the Dates for Filing chart, EB-1 India and China are both July 1, 2024.
Priority Date Retrogression: Continued Monitoring
The Department of State notes that, while FY 2027 numbers have allowed dates to advance across various categories, certain worldwide employment-based categories had to retrogress to keep issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits. The State Department says it will continue monitoring the situation and make any necessary adjustments meaning further movement, including additional retrogression, is possible in the coming months.
Our Perspective
Retrogression of the worldwide EB-2 and EB-3 categories in the very first month of a new fiscal year is extremely unusual and signals that demand in these categories remains high heading into FY 2027. The late release of the October 2026 Visa Bulletin means worldwide EB-2 applicants planning to file for adjustment with their immigrant visa petitions will lose the opportunity for concurrent filing when the category retrogresses in October.
We are encouraged by the return of India EB-2 and will prioritize filing and processing for clients who are now eligible.
We also continue to track the August 2026 court decision vacating the 75-country immigrant visa pause and its potential to add demand to the worldwide visa numbers, and will update clients as DOS and USCIS issue additional information.
Should you have any questions about how the October 2026 Visa Bulletin affects you or your employees, please contact your Meltzer Hellrung professional.
