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Status checked September 23, 2026: The October 2026 Visa Bulletin has not yet appeared on the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin page. September remains the current bulletin and the upcoming bulletin is marked “Coming Soon.” We will update this page after the official release and separately verify USCIS’s October adjustment-of-status filing charts.
Quick answer: The October 2026 Visa Bulletin is pending. The State Department has not announced a publication date or explained the timing on its bulletin page. October begins fiscal year 2027, so annual visa numbers reset, but the actual category cutoff dates cannot be known until the new bulletin is issued. A delayed release does not itself predict advancement or retrogression.
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Has the October 2026 Visa Bulletin been released?
No, as of our September 23 check. Check the official State Department index for the latest status. We have not found an announced release date. We will replace this status with confirmed dates and a September-to-October comparison once DOS publishes the bulletin.
What can we reasonably expect in October?
October 1 begins fiscal year 2027. Annual immigrant visa limits reset, which may permit visa issuance to resume in categories whose FY2026 numbers were exhausted. This does not guarantee that every Final Action Date or Date for Filing will advance. Cutoffs depend on category, country of chargeability, demand and statutory limits. The State Department explains the annual reset for EB-2 India.
EB-2 India: an official but qualified forecast
The State Department said that EB-2 India numbers became unavailable for the rest of FY2026. In section F of its July 2026 Visa Bulletin, it forecast that October’s EB-2 India Final Action Date would likely advance to at least the date in the May 2026 bulletin, depending on Indian EB-2 demand and FY2027 limits. The May date was July 15, 2014, as shown in the May bulletin. That is a conditional government forecast, not the issued October cutoff and not a promise that a particular applicant can file Form I-485.
EB-5 India unreserved: another conditional forecast
Section I of the July bulletin similarly said that EB-5 India unreserved was unavailable for the remainder of FY2026 and that October’s Final Action Date would likely advance to at least its June 2026 position. DOS expressly conditioned that outlook on demand and annual limits. We will report the actual October date only after publication.
Will USCIS allow me to file Form I-485 in October?
That depends on a separate USCIS determination. The Visa Bulletin has Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts. USCIS identifies which chart family-sponsored and employment-based adjustment applicants may use for filing in a given month. Before filing, check USCIS’s monthly filing-chart page, as well as your category, country of chargeability, priority date and other eligibility requirements. A favorable Dates for Filing cutoff in the DOS bulletin alone does not establish that you may submit an I-485 in October.
Consular applicants should distinguish the ability to submit requested documents to the National Visa Center from visa availability for final action. The September bulletin explains how each chart works. See also HLG’s guide to NVC scheduling after documentarily complete status.
What should applicants do while waiting?
Confirm your priority date, preference category and country of chargeability, and determine whether you are pursuing adjustment of status or consular processing. Gather petition and receipt notices and identify any separate eligibility issue that may need review. Read HLG’s explanations of priority dates and your place in the visa queue. Do not rely on a prediction as a filing date.
If the October bulletin appears to create an opportunity in your category, book a confidential consultation with Herman Legal Group or call 216-696-6170 to discuss your circumstances.
How this page will be updated
After the State Department releases October’s bulletin, we will add its official link, identify the most consequential changes, and compare September and October Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing in separate, clearly labeled tables. We will mark USCIS’s October filing-chart choice as pending until verified, then explain its effect on adjustment applicants. The original publication date will remain visible alongside the substantive update date.
About the author: Richard T. Herman, Esq. founded Herman Legal Group in Cleveland in 1995 and has practiced immigration law for more than 30 years. Learn more about Richard’s experience and sources of trust. Explore HLG’s Visa Bulletin archive for prior monthly coverage.
