Skip to content
Queue and dates

US Visa Bulletin: current EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 dates

Updated: Author: Alina Kanametova

Key answer

The Visa Bulletin is the State Department's monthly table of how the immigrant-visa queue moves. For October 2026, on the Final Action chart for all countries including Russia: EB-1 - current, EB-2 - Jan 1, 2025, EB-3 - May 15, 2024. You compare your priority date (generally the day USCIS received the I-140) against this table: when it is earlier, a visa number is available.

Visa Bulletin dates: October 2026

The October 2026 bulletin, Final Action Dates for every country except China, India, Mexico and the Philippines (Russia is in this column): EB-1 - current, EB-2 (including NIW) - Jan 1, 2025, EB-3 - May 15, 2024. For employment-based I-485 filings in October 2026, USCIS accepts the Dates for Filing chart.

Final Action Dates (chart A), October 2026
CategoryAll other countries*ChinaIndia
EB-1currentJul 1, 2023Feb 1, 2023
EB-2Jan 1, 2025Oct 1, 2021Nov 1, 2013
EB-3May 15, 2024Jan 8, 2022Jan 1, 2014
Dates for Filing (chart B), October 2026
CategoryAll other countries*ChinaIndia
EB-1currentJul 1, 2024Jul 1, 2024
EB-2Mar 15, 2026Jan 1, 2023Jan 15, 2015
EB-3Aug 1, 2024Apr 1, 2024Jan 15, 2015
Final Action Dates by month, all other countries*
BulletinEB-1EB-2EB-3
October 2026currentJan 1, 2025May 15, 2024
September 2026currentcurrentSep 1, 2024
August 2026currentcurrentSep 1, 2024
July 2026currentcurrentAug 1, 2024
June 2026currentcurrentJun 1, 2024
May 2026currentcurrentJun 1, 2024
April 2026currentcurrentJun 1, 2024
March 2026currentOct 15, 2024Oct 1, 2023
February 2026currentApr 1, 2024Jun 1, 2023
January 2026currentApr 1, 2024Apr 22, 2023
December 2025currentFeb 1, 2024Apr 15, 2023
November 2025currentDec 1, 2023Apr 1, 2023

* All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - the column for every country of birth except China, India, Mexico and the Philippines. current - no queue; a date - applicants with a priority date earlier than it can move; U - no numbers. Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletins and the USCIS filing charts, checked September 30, 2026. The November 2026 bulletin was not yet published as of September 30, 2026.

The November 2026 issue: as of our check on September 30, 2026 it was not published yet. The bulletin usually appears about two weeks before the month begins.

What changed in October 2026 compared with September 2026

CategoryColumnChartWasNowMovement
EB-1IndiaFinal Action DatesOct 15, 2022Feb 1, 2023forward 109 days
EB-2All countriesFinal Action DatescurrentJan 1, 2025no longer current
EB-2ChinaFinal Action DatesSep 1, 2021Oct 1, 2021forward 30 days
EB-2IndiaFinal Action DatesunavailableNov 1, 2013a cut-off date appeared again
EB-3All countriesFinal Action DatesSep 1, 2024May 15, 2024back 109 days (retrogression)
EB-3ChinaFinal Action DatesJan 1, 2022Jan 8, 2022forward 7 days
EB-1ChinaDates for FilingDec 1, 2023Jul 1, 2024forward 213 days
EB-1IndiaDates for FilingDec 1, 2023Jul 1, 2024forward 213 days
EB-2All countriesDates for FilingcurrentMar 15, 2026no longer current
EB-2ChinaDates for FilingJan 1, 2022Jan 1, 2023forward 365 days
EB-3All countriesDates for FilingcurrentAug 1, 2024no longer current
EB-3ChinaDates for FilingJan 8, 2022Apr 1, 2024forward 814 days

How to read the bulletin

Your priority date

Your priority date is generally the day USCIS RECEIVED your I-140; it is printed on the I-797 notices (receipt and approval). That is the date you compare with the table for your category (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3) and country of birth. When your date is earlier than the bulletin's, a visa number is available.

Two charts, and which one is yours

Final Action Dates - when a visa can actually be ISSUED or the green card approved. Dates for Filing - when you may SUBMIT documents early (to the NVC or the I-485). For filing the I-485 inside the US, USCIS announces each month which table it accepts: for October 2026 it is the Dates for Filing chart.

"C", "U" and retrogression

"C" (current) means there is no queue for your category and country. "U" (unavailable) means no numbers are left for that month. Retrogression is when a date moves BACKWARD - it has happened to both EB-1 and EB-2. Nothing is "lost": your priority date stays yours; you wait for the date to reach yours again.

What the bulletin does not speed up

The NVC and the consulate schedule the interview only when a visa number is available. Premium processing speeds up the PETITION decision but does not move the bulletin queue - that is set by category, country of birth and demand. October opens a new fiscal year with a fresh annual quota, which is why the October issue gets read more closely than the rest.

Final Action over the last 12 issues

Final Action cut-offs, newest issue first. "C" means no queue, "U" means no numbers left that month. The second chart (Dates for Filing) for the current month is in the table above.

IssueEB-1EB-2EB-3
All countriesChinaIndiaAll countriesChinaIndiaAll countriesChinaIndia
October 2026currentJul 1, 2023Feb 1, 2023Jan 1, 2025Oct 1, 2021Nov 1, 2013May 15, 2024Jan 8, 2022Jan 1, 2014
September 2026currentJul 1, 2023Oct 15, 2022currentSep 1, 2021unavailableSep 1, 2024Jan 1, 2022Jan 1, 2014
August 2026currentJul 1, 2023Oct 15, 2022currentSep 1, 2021unavailableSep 1, 2024Jan 1, 2022Jan 1, 2014
July 2026currentJun 1, 2023Oct 15, 2022currentSep 1, 2021unavailableAug 1, 2024Dec 22, 2021Jan 1, 2014
June 2026currentApr 1, 2023Dec 15, 2022currentSep 1, 2021Sep 1, 2013Jun 1, 2024Aug 1, 2021Dec 15, 2013
May 2026currentApr 1, 2023Apr 1, 2023currentSep 1, 2021Jul 15, 2014Jun 1, 2024Jun 15, 2021Nov 15, 2013
April 2026currentApr 1, 2023Apr 1, 2023currentSep 1, 2021Jul 15, 2014Jun 1, 2024Jun 15, 2021Nov 15, 2013
March 2026currentMar 1, 2023Mar 1, 2023Oct 15, 2024Sep 1, 2021Sep 15, 2013Oct 1, 2023May 1, 2021Nov 15, 2013
February 2026currentFeb 1, 2023Feb 1, 2023Apr 1, 2024Sep 1, 2021Jul 15, 2013Jun 1, 2023May 1, 2021Nov 15, 2013
January 2026currentFeb 1, 2023Feb 1, 2023Apr 1, 2024Sep 1, 2021Jul 15, 2013Apr 22, 2023May 1, 2021Nov 15, 2013
December 2025currentJan 22, 2023Mar 15, 2022Feb 1, 2024Jun 1, 2021May 15, 2013Apr 15, 2023Apr 1, 2021Sep 22, 2013
November 2025currentDec 22, 2022Feb 15, 2022Dec 1, 2023Apr 1, 2021Apr 1, 2013Apr 1, 2023Mar 1, 2021Aug 22, 2013

How the Final Action dates moved over 24 issues

From the October 2024 bulletin to October 2026: the cut-off then, a year ago and now, the net change, and in how many issues it moved forward or back. Computed from the official tables, issue by issue.

CategoryOctober 2024October 2025October 2026Net changeIssues forward / back
EB-1, All countriescurrentcurrentcurrentcurrent, unchanged0 / 0
EB-1, ChinaNov 8, 2022Dec 22, 2022Jul 1, 2023forward 235 days8 / 0
EB-1, IndiaFeb 1, 2022Feb 15, 2022Feb 1, 2023forward 365 days6 / 2
EB-2, All countriesMar 15, 2023Dec 1, 2023Jan 1, 2025forward 658 days9 / 2
EB-2, ChinaMar 22, 2020Apr 1, 2021Oct 1, 2021forward 558 days9 / 0
EB-2, IndiaJul 15, 2012Apr 1, 2013Nov 1, 2013forward 474 days11 / 2
EB-3, All countriesNov 15, 2022Apr 1, 2023May 15, 2024forward 547 days11 / 1
EB-3, ChinaApr 1, 2020Mar 1, 2021Jan 8, 2022forward 647 days14 / 0
EB-3, IndiaNov 1, 2012Aug 22, 2013Jan 1, 2014forward 426 days13 / 0

"Back" counts retrogressions and months when the category stopped being current or ran out of numbers (U). Each month heading links to that bulletin on travel.state.gov.

FAQ

What are the Visa Bulletin dates for October 2026?
Final Action Dates for every country except China, India, Mexico and the Philippines (Russia included): EB-1 - current, EB-2 - Jan 1, 2025, EB-3 - May 15, 2024. India: EB-1 - Feb 1, 2023, EB-2 - Nov 1, 2013; China: EB-1 - Jul 1, 2023, EB-2 - Oct 1, 2021. For employment-based I-485 filings this month USCIS accepts the Dates for Filing chart.
What changed compared with September 2026?
12 cut-offs moved: EB-1 India - forward 109 days; EB-2 All countries - no longer current; EB-2 China - forward 30 days; EB-2 India - a cut-off date appeared again. The full breakdown is in the "What changed" table on this page.
When will the November 2026 bulletin come out?
The State Department publishes the bulletin roughly two weeks before the month starts but does not announce an exact date. As of our check on September 30, 2026, the November 2026 issue was not published yet. Check travel.state.gov; the dates on this page are updated as soon as it appears.
What is a priority date and where do I find it?
It is your place in the immigrant-visa queue - generally the day USCIS received your I-140. It is printed on the I-797 notices (receipt and approval). That is the date you compare against the bulletin for your category (EB-1, EB-2) and country of birth.
How do Final Action Dates differ from Dates for Filing?
Final Action is when a visa can actually be issued or the green card approved for your date. Dates for Filing is when you may submit documents early (NVC/I-485) so processing starts sooner. For I-485 inside the US, USCIS announces monthly which chart to use.
What do C and U mean in the Visa Bulletin?
The State Department bulletin itself says: "C" (current) means numbers are authorized for all qualified applicants in the category, no date to wait for; "U" (unauthorized) means numbers are not authorized for issuance. A date in a cell means the category is oversubscribed and numbers go only to applicants with a priority date earlier than the one listed.
The date retrogressed - did I lose everything?
No. Your priority date remains yours (as long as the petition stands). Retrogression only pauses visa issuance: when the dates advance to yours again, the process resumes where it stopped. Bad for planning, but nothing is "lost".
Does premium processing speed up the bulletin queue?
No. Premium (I-907) only speeds up the PETITION adjudication. The bulletin queue is set by category, country and demand - neither premium nor a lawyer can move it.

What the chats ask about the Visa Bulletin

  • 1×When was the visa bulletin last updated?
  • 1×Priority Date - how long do I wait from this date?
  • 1×5. Consider concurrent filing: If your Priority Date is current at the time of filing I-140, you can file I-140 and I-485 simultaneously (saves 6-12 months) - is that possible?
  • 1×What is a visa bulletin and what do I need to know about it?
  • 1×I have a priority date of December 28, 2023, for EB2 NIW, and an approval date of January 5, 2024. I received work authorization on December 10, 2025. When do you think I will receive the green card?
  • 1×How often does the priority date change for EB2 NIW? The March visa bulletin indicates current.

Real timelines named in the chats

StageTypicallyNote
EB-1: NVC / waiting for an embassy interview after petition approvalabout 6-14 monthsThe expected wait for an interview after EB-1 approval was mentioned as several months, about half a year, about a year, and an estimate of up to roughly 14 months, taking NVC, the visa bulletin, and the embassy queue into account.
Employment-based (EB): waiting for the chance to file I-485 after the priority dateabout 10 monthsMessages mentioned waiting for the priority date to become current in the visa bulletin before filing adjustment of status.
EB-1A: waiting for the interview after NVC processingseveral months or moreThere is an observation about waiting for an interview after NVC processing with a current bulletin: the applicant continued waiting for several months while receiving periodic automated notices.
EB-2: Visa Bulletin - movement of the priority dateabout 2.5 months per quarter in one observationOne discussion noted that the date in the bulletin advanced by 2.5 months between the January and April 2024 editions. This does not guarantee future movement.

Distilled from the public community chats, anonymised; corpus as of June 2026. These are participants' observations, not legal advice and not USCIS statistics.

Deeper articles in the knowledge base: how to read the Visa Bulletin, the priority date and Final Action vs Dates for Filing.

Related

Consular processTimeline after DQEB-2 NIWGreen-card path

Reference information, not legal advice. Bulletin dates change every month - verify the current issue on travel.state.gov and the month's chart rule on uscis.gov.