October 2026 Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the October 2026 Visa Bulletin which outlines the availability of immigrant visas for family-sponsored and employment-based categories according to applicants’ priority date.
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and "U" means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01JUL23 | 01FEB23 | C | C |
| 2nd | 01JAN25 | 01OCT21 | 01NOV13 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 |
| 3rd | 15MAY24 | 08JAN22 | 01JAN14 | 15MAY24 | 15AUG23 |
| Other Workers | 01JAN22 | 01OCT19 | 01JAN14 | 01JAN22 | 01JAN22 |
| 4th | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU) |
C | 01DEC16 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%, including NR, RR) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, including RI) |
C | C | C | C | C |