October 2026 Visa Bulletin India: The October 2026 visa bulletin India numbers brought the first real relief in months for Indian professionals waiting on a green card. The State Department released the first bulletin of fiscal year 2027 and EB-2 visa numbers for applicants born in India became available again after the category was unavailable on the Final Action Dates chart in July, August and September. The reopening date is November 1, 2013, so applicants with priority dates before that day can have their cases decided. Indian EB-1 also moved, with the final action date advancing about three and a half months to February 1, 2023.
The second piece of news may matter more to people who are still waiting. USCIS will follow the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based cases in October, after it required the stricter Final Action Dates chart from May through September. For Indian EB-2 and EB-3 applicants that means a priority date earlier than January 15, 2015 can be enough to submit Form I-485, even though approval is still years away for most. Indian EB-1 applicants can file with a priority date earlier than July 1, 2024. This is a reset, not a breakthrough, and the sections below explain why. We’ll be updating this article monthly.
October 2026 Visa Bulletin India Key Highlights
| Item | What changed | Date or detail |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal year 2027 starts | New annual immigrant visa numbers released | October 1, 2026 |
| India EB-2 final action date | Returns from unavailable | November 1, 2013 |
| India EB-2 date for filing | Unchanged | January 15, 2015 |
| India EB-1 final action date | Advances | February 1, 2023 (from October 15, 2022) |
| India EB-1 date for filing | Advances seven months | July 1, 2024 |
| India EB-3 final action date | Unchanged, as reported by trackers | January 1, 2014 |
| India EB-3 date for filing | Unchanged | January 15, 2015 |
| USCIS chart for October | Dates for Filing accepted | Applies to family and employment cases |
| EB-5 unreserved India | Visa numbers available again | Check the bulletin for the exact date |
India Green Card Dates in the October Bulletin: EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 Compared
Two charts matter, and people mix them up constantly. The Final Action Dates chart tells you when a visa number can be issued and a green card can be approved. The Dates for Filing chart tells you when you may submit paperwork. Here is the India picture side by side.
| Category (India) | Final Action Date | Date for Filing |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | February 1, 2023 | July 1, 2024 |
| EB-2 | November 1, 2013 | January 15, 2015 |
| EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals | January 1, 2014 | January 15, 2015 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | January 1, 2014 | January 15, 2015 |
One caution. Law firm summaries and tracker sites do not agree on the exact EB-3 India final action date, and a few summaries blur the filing and final action columns. Read the original bulletin on travel.state.gov before you act on any single date. The EB-1 and EB-2 figures were consistent across the sources I checked.
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Why EB-2 India Went Unavailable and Why It Is Back
Every country is limited to roughly seven percent of the green cards issued in a category each year. India uses its share quickly because of the size of the backlog. During fiscal year 2026, EB-2 India stopped appearing on the final action chart after the per-country limit was reached. New fiscal year numbers arrived on October 1, so the category could be restored.
The date it came back with is still behind where it was earlier this year. Before the pause, India EB-2 had been sitting around July 15, 2014, so the return at November 1, 2013 is about eight months behind. That is a normal pattern after a reset. The State Department sets cutoffs conservatively early in the year because it does not want to overshoot the annual limit, then moves them forward when demand becomes clear.
What USCIS Dates for Filing Means for Indian Applicants
USCIS chooses the chart every month. For October it chose Dates for Filing, and an Indian EB-2 applicant with a priority date before January 15, 2015 can file Form I-485 now. It is a real change from the past five months, when USCIS imposed the Final Action Dates chart in each month from May through September 2026.
Filing early does not get you a green card early, but it gets you real benefits. A pending Form I-485 can allow you to apply for an employment authorization document and advance parole, and it can give H-4 and other dependents more flexibility. In many cases it can also protect you if your job changes, subject to the portability rules. Immigration attorneys describe it as a filing opportunity, not a visa number. One practitioner quoted in coverage called October a significant reset for Indian employment-based immigration and not a broad-based breakthrough in the backlog.
Whether November keeps the same chart is unknown. USCIS reassesses it every month, so anyone eligible this month who is documentarily ready should talk to counsel about filing in October rather than waiting.
Rest of World EB-2 and EB-3 Retrogression and Why It Matters to Indians
While India moved forward, the rest of the world moved back. For EB-2, the final action date for worldwide applicants dropped to January 1, 2025 from current in September, and the date for filing is March 15, 2026. For EB-3, the worldwide final action date moved back about three and a half months to May 15, 2024.
Indian families should care for a practical reason. When other countries use less of their annual numbers, the unused numbers can spill over to India, which is how Indian dates sometimes jump forward. Tighter worldwide dates mean fewer spillover visas for India this year. One analysis argued that the retrogression for Rest of World applicants means no spillover is likely to help India in the near term. That is the reason many experts expect India EB-2 and EB-3 to move slowly through FY 2027.
Other US Immigration Changes in October That Indian Applicants Should Know
The visa bulletin is not the only change this month.
Public charge. The Department of Homeland Security rescinded the 2022 public charge regulation effective September 18, and October is the first full month under the broader approach. Officers can consider age, health, family situation, finances, assets, education and skills. Using public benefits does not automatically make someone ineligible. If you or a family member receives any benefit, speak with a lawyer before you file.
Adjustment of status policy. In May, USCIS issued a policy memo directing officers that applicants seeking permanent residence should generally pursue consular processing abroad instead of adjusting status in the United States. The memo suggested that H-1B and L-1 workers and their dependents may be less affected, because of the way those visa categories work. Legal challenges were expected and the situation may have changed, so check current guidance before you decide between filing Form I-485 and consular processing.
Medicaid and screening. Reports on the October changes also point to tighter Medicaid and CHIP eligibility for some noncitizens and expanded social media screening for some visa applicants. These are less likely to affect a typical employment-based green card applicant but may matter for dependents and family members.
New EB-5 filing fee. A new rule creates a $10,330 fee for a new filing available to certain older EB-5 investors whose regional center or project is terminated.
Green Card Priority Date Calculator for Indian Applicants
Use the checker attached to this article to compare your own priority date with the October cutoffs. Choose EB-1, EB-2 or EB-3, enter the priority date from your approval notice, and the tool reports three things: whether your date is earlier than the Dates for Filing cutoff, whether it is earlier than the Final Action cutoff, and how many years separate your date from approval. It is an information tool and not a legal opinion, and the numbers in it come from the October bulletin.
For example, an EB-2 India applicant with a priority date of June 15, 2012 is earlier than the November 1, 2013 final action date, so a visa number may be available. A priority date of March 2014 is between the two charts: you may be able to file now and then wait. A priority date in 2016 is later than both cutoffs.
India Green Card Priority Date Checker
Based on the October 2026 Visa Bulletin for India. For information only, not legal advice.
| Dates for Filing cutoff (file I-485) | |
| Final Action cutoff (approval possible) | |
| Years behind Final Action cutoff |
USCIS chooses the filing chart each month. For October 2026 it accepted the Dates for Filing chart. Confirm the November chart before you file. The EB-3 Final Action cutoff was reported differently by different sources, so verify it on travel.state.gov.
How to Apply for an Employment-Based Green Card From India
The process has stages, and the visa bulletin only affects the last ones.
- Employer sponsorship. For EB-2 and EB-3 cases, the employer usually starts with PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor, unless the case is an EB-2 national interest waiver or an EB-1 category that skips labor certification.
- Form I-140. The employer, or the individual in self-petition categories, files an immigrant petition with USCIS. The approval date or filing date sets your priority date.
- Wait for a cutoff date. Compare your priority date with the Visa Bulletin each month.
- File Form I-485 or begin consular processing. If you are in the United States and the chart allows, file Form I-485 with USCIS. Otherwise you proceed through the National Visa Center and a US consulate in India.
- Biometrics and interview. USCIS may schedule fingerprints and, in some cases, an interview.
- Decision. If a visa number is available and everything is in order, the green card is approved.
Each stage has its own document list. Gather your passport, I-94 record, birth certificate, tax transcripts, employment letters and the medical exam on Form I-693 where required.
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Green Card Processing Time in FY 2027
Timing has three parts. The first is the priority date wait, and for most Indians that is measured in years or, for those with later dates, decades. The second is USCIS processing, which varies by service center and category, so use the processing time tool on the USCIS site instead of relying on averages. The third is the security and background check stage, which can add months in some cases.
For realistic planning, someone with an EB-2 or EB-3 India priority date in the mid 2010s should expect the final action date to need several more years of movement. Trackers do not predict a big jump. One site projects the India EB-2 and EB-3 filing dates to hold near January 15, 2015 over the next several months, which fits the pattern after a reset. Keep your expectations modest, and treat any website that promises a green card date with suspicion.
Fees and Payment Schedule for Green Card Filings
Fees are paid when you file, not when the case is approved. Typical costs for an in-country adjustment include the Form I-485 filing fee, the biometrics service where applicable, and separate fees for the work permit and advance parole applications. Premium processing is only available for certain forms such as the Form I-140 and carries a separate fee. Fee amounts change, and recent legislation and rules have added new charges in some categories, so use the USCIS fee calculator the day you file and never rely on a figure from a blog post. Pay through the official USCIS channels only, since fake sites that collect fees are a known scam.
Plan the cash flow too. A family of four applying together can face several thousand dollars in government fees, plus attorney fees and medical exam costs. If your employer is covering the process, confirm in writing which costs they pay.
What to Expect for the Rest of Fiscal Year 2027
Nobody can predict the exact path, but the pattern is familiar. The State Department tends to move cutoffs carefully in the first quarter and adjusts when it sees demand. A few things to watch.
Spillover. If worldwide EB-2 and EB-3 demand stays high, India will not get much help from unused numbers.
The chart USCIS selects in November. If USCIS returns to Final Action Dates, filing windows will shrink for most Indian applicants.
Any court decision on the adjustment of status policy. A ruling could change who can file inside the United States.
Further public charge guidance. New forms or instructions could change what evidence you submit.
Common Mistakes Indian Green Card Applicants Should Avoid
Treating a date for filing as an approval date is the most common one. Missing your own priority date is another; it appears on the I-797 approval notice and is not the same as the date you were hired or the date you started the process. Filing without a lawyer review when you have complicated history, such as status gaps or earlier denials, is risky. Ignoring the aging out risk for children is serious too, since a dependent who turns 21 before approval can lose derivative status unless the Child Status Protection Act applies. Finally, do not forget to track the monthly bulletin, since a window that opens in one month can close in the next.
Official Websites and Resources for Green Card Applicants
| Resource | What it does | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Department of State Visa Bulletin | Monthly cutoff dates, both charts | https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html |
| USCIS adjustment of status filing charts | Shows which chart to use each month | https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/adjustment-of-status-filing-charts-from-the-visa-bulletin |
| USCIS online account login and registration | Create an account, file online, track your case | https://my.uscis.gov |
| USCIS case status check | Enter your receipt number | https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do |
| USCIS processing times | Current averages by form and office | https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/ |
| USCIS fee calculator | Confirm current filing fees | https://www.uscis.gov/feecalculator |
| Form I-485 | Application to adjust status | https://www.uscis.gov/i-485 |
| Form I-140 | Immigrant petition for alien workers | https://www.uscis.gov/i-140 |
| Department of Labor PERM | Labor certification information | https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/programs/permanent |
| National Visa Center | Consular processing steps | https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process.html |
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FAQs
What is the EB-2 India final action date in the October 2026 visa bulletin?
It is November 1, 2013. The category had been unavailable on the Final Action Dates chart in the closing months of fiscal year 2026.
Did EB-2 India move forward in October 2026?
The category came back from unavailable, but the date is behind where it stood earlier in the year. The date for filing stayed at January 15, 2015.
What is the EB-3 India date in October 2026?
Trackers list the final action date as January 1, 2014 and the date for filing as January 15, 2015. Confirm it in the bulletin itself.
Can I file Form I-485 in October 2026 from India?
Form I-485 is for people already in the United States. If you are abroad, you proceed through consular processing instead. For those inside the country, a priority date earlier than your category's Dates for Filing cutoff is the test.
Which chart should I use, Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates?
For October 2026, USCIS says to use Dates for Filing for employment-based cases. USCIS decides again every month.
What is a priority date?
It is the date that fixes your place in line, usually the date your labor certification was filed or your immigrant petition was received.
Does filing under Dates for Filing mean I will get my green card now?
No. It lets you submit the application. Approval needs a Final Action Date that has reached your priority date.
How long is the green card wait for Indians?
It depends on category and priority date. For many EB-2 and EB-3 applicants it is well over a decade, and trackers do not expect a quick fix.
Why did Rest of World EB-2 retrogress?
The State Department moved dates back to keep visa use within annual and quarterly limits.
Will my children age out?
They can if they turn 21 before approval. The Child Status Protection Act may help, so ask a lawyer to calculate it.
Is the public charge rule different now?
Yes. The 2022 rule was rescinded effective September 18 and a broader assessment applies. Using benefits does not automatically bar you.
When is the next visa bulletin released?
Usually in the middle of the month before. The November bulletin should arrive during October.
Conclusion
The October 2026 visa bulletin India update is good news with limits. EB-2 is available again, EB-1 moved, and USCIS has opened a wider filing window for people with priority dates earlier than the Dates for Filing cutoffs. At the same time, India dates still sit years behind for most applicants, worldwide retrogression reduces the chance of spillover help, and policy shifts such as the broader public charge approach and the adjustment of status memo add new risks. Check your priority date with the calculator, confirm the chart USCIS accepts each month, keep your documents ready, and speak with a licensed immigration attorney before you file. This article will be refreshed when the November bulletin is released, so check back.
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