With the federal government's Fiscal Year 2027 officially beginning on October 1, 2026, annual immigrant visa allocations have reset. The U.S. Department of State has released the highly anticipated October 2026 Visa Bulletin, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it will accept adjustment of status applications based on the Dates for Filing chart in October.
For employment-based applicants born in Mainland China, this new fiscal year bulletin delivers a long-awaited, massive leap forward, with major categories advancing by several months to multiple years in the Dates for Filing chart! At the same time, cut-off dates for the Rest of the World (ROW) experienced rare and significant retrogressions due to annual quota management. Below is LYD Law's breakdown of the core October shifts and your strategic action guide.
Table 1: Employment-Based A. Final Action Dates
| Category | September 2026 | October 2026 | Advance/Retrogression |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 · India | 15OCT22 | 01FEB23 | Advanced 109 days |
| EB-2 · All Other Chargeability Areas | C | 01JAN25 | C to cut-off date (retrogressed) |
| EB-2 · China (mainland-born) | 01SEP21 | 01OCT21 | Advanced 30 days |
| EB-2 · India | U | 01NOV13 | U to available |
| EB-2 · Mexico | C | 01JAN25 | C to cut-off date (retrogressed) |
| EB-2 · Philippines | C | 01JAN25 | C to cut-off date (retrogressed) |
| EB-3 · All Other Chargeability Areas | 01SEP24 | 15MAY24 | Retrogressed 109 days |
| EB-3 · China (mainland-born) | 01JAN22 | 08JAN22 | Advanced 7 days |
| EB-3 · Mexico | 01SEP24 | 15MAY24 | Retrogressed 109 days |
| EB-3 · Philippines | 01AUG23 | 15AUG23 | Advanced 14 days |
| EW (Other Workers) · All Other Chargeability Areas | 01APR22 | 01JAN22 | Retrogressed 90 days |
| EW (Other Workers) · China (mainland-born) | 01MAY19 | 01OCT19 | Advanced 153 days |
| EW (Other Workers) · Mexico | 01APR22 | 01JAN22 | Retrogressed 90 days |
| EW (Other Workers) · Philippines | 01DEC21 | 01JAN22 | Advanced 31 days |
| EB-5 Unreserved · India | U | 01DEC23 | U to available |
Table 2: Employment-Based B. Dates for Filing
| Category | September 2026 | October 2026 | Advance/Retrogression |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 · China (mainland-born) | 01DEC23 | 01JUL24 | Advanced 213 days |
| EB-1 · India | 01DEC23 | 01JUL24 | Advanced 213 days |
| EB-2 · All Other Chargeability Areas | C | 15MAR26 | C to cut-off date (retrogressed) |
| EB-2 · China (mainland-born) | 01JAN22 | 01JAN23 | Advanced 365 days |
| EB-2 · Mexico | C | 15MAR26 | C to cut-off date (retrogressed) |
| EB-2 · Philippines | C | 15MAR26 | C to cut-off date (retrogressed) |
| EB-3 · All Other Chargeability Areas | C | 01AUG24 | C to cut-off date (retrogressed) |
| EB-3 · China (mainland-born) | 08JAN22 | 01APR24 | Advanced 814 days |
| EB-3 · Mexico | C | 01AUG24 | C to cut-off date (retrogressed) |
| EW (Other Workers) · All Other Chargeability Areas | 01AUG22 | 01JUN22 | Retrogressed 61 days |
| EW (Other Workers) · China (mainland-born) | 01OCT19 | 01OCT20 | Advanced 366 days |
| EW (Other Workers) · Mexico | 01AUG22 | 01JUN22 | Retrogressed 61 days |
| EW (Other Workers) · Philippines | 01AUG22 | 01JUN22 | Retrogressed 61 days |
| EB-4 · All Chargeability Areas | 01JAN23 | 01JAN25 | Advanced 731 days |
| Certain Religious Workers · All Chargeability Areas | 01JAN23 | 01JAN25 | Advanced 731 days |
| EB-5 Unreserved · China (mainland-born) | 01MAR17 | 01MAR21 | Advanced 1461 days |
Table 3: Family-Sponsored A. Final Action Dates
| Category | September 2026 | October 2026 | Advance/Retrogression |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 · Mexico | 01JAN08 | 08SEP08 | Advanced 251 days |
| F1 · Philippines | 01MAY13 | 01NOV13 | Advanced 184 days |
| F2A · All Other Chargeability Areas | 22AUG26 | 22SEP26 | Advanced 31 days |
| F2A · China (mainland-born) | 22AUG26 | 22SEP26 | Advanced 31 days |
| F2A · India | 22AUG26 | 22SEP26 | Advanced 31 days |
| F2A · Mexico | 22AUG25 | 22MAR26 | Advanced 212 days |
| F2A · Philippines | 22AUG26 | 22SEP26 | Advanced 31 days |
| F2B · Mexico | 15FEB09 | 15MAY10 | Advanced 454 days |
| F2B · Philippines | 01JUN13 | 01OCT13 | Advanced 122 days |
| F3 · Philippines | 22FEB06 | 22JUL06 | Advanced 150 days |
| F4 · India | 01NOV06 | 15DEC06 | Advanced 44 days |
| F4 · Mexico | 08APR01 | 22APR01 | Advanced 14 days |
| F4 · Philippines | 22AUG07 | 15MAY08 | Advanced 267 days |
Table 4: Family-Sponsored B. Dates for Filing
| Category | September 2026 | October 2026 | Advance/Retrogression |
|---|---|---|---|
| F2B · Mexico | 15MAY10 | 22MAR11 | Advanced 311 days |
| F2B · Philippines | 01OCT13 | 01OCT14 | Advanced 365 days |
| F3 · Mexico | 15JUL01 | 01DEC02 | Advanced 504 days |
| F3 · Philippines | 08AUG06 | 22OCT06 | Advanced 75 days |
| F4 · India | 15DEC06 | 01FEB07 | Advanced 48 days |
| F4 · Philippines | 22MAR08 | 22MAR09 | Advanced 365 days |
Note: Unnoted categories in the table indicate no change.
I. Mainland China Employment-Based Highlights: Massive Leaps in Chart B
In October, applicants whose priority dates are earlier than the Dates for Filing (Chart B) cutoff dates listed below can formally submit their Form I-485 adjustment of status applications—along with concurrent EAD work permit and Advance Parole travel document applications:
- EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability / Multinational Executives): Chart B advances 213 days (7 months) to July 1, 2024; Chart A remains at July 1, 2023.
- EB-2 (Advanced Degrees / NIW): Chart B surges ahead by 365 days (1 full year) to January 1, 2023; Chart A advances 30 days to October 1, 2021.
- EB-3 (Professionals and Skilled Workers): Chart B skyrockets by 814 days (over 2 years and 2 months) to April 1, 2024; Chart A advances 7 days to January 8, 2022.
- EW (EB-3 Other Workers): Chart B advances 366 days to October 1, 2020; Chart A advances 153 days to October 1, 2019.
- EB-5 (Unreserved - Direct & Regional Center): Chart B leaps forward 1,461 days (4 full years) to March 1, 2021; Chart A remains at December 1, 2016. All EB-5 Set-Aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure) remain Current on both charts.
II. Global Trends, India Reopenings, and Family-Based Updates
Beyond the dramatic gains for Chinese applicants, the October bulletin signals significant shifts across global immigration categories:
- Worldwide EB-2 and EB-3 Retrogression: To keep visa allocations within quarterly and annual statutory limits, the State Department sharply rolled back dates for the Rest of the World (ROW). The worldwide EB-2 Final Action Date dropped by 1 year and 9 months to January 1, 2025 (with Dates for Filing retrogressing 6.5 months to March 15, 2026). The worldwide EB-3 Dates for Filing retrogressed by over 2 years to August 1, 2024. Because the bulletin was released late on September 29, affected worldwide applicants were left with fewer than 48 hours to have their applications received by USCIS before the October cutoffs took effect.
- India Visa Numbers Reopen: Indian applicants also saw a 7-month leap in the EB-1 Dates for Filing chart (advancing to July 1, 2024). In addition, India's EB-2 and Unreserved EB-5 Final Action dates, which became unavailable in September due to exhausted quotas, have officially reopened for the new fiscal year.
- Family-Based Forward Movement: In family-sponsored preferences, the F2A Final Action Date for spouses and children of permanent residents advanced by 1 month to September 22, 2026 across most of the world, including China.
III. Critical Warnings & LYD Law Strategic Action Guide
The opening of the Dates for Filing chart at the start of a fiscal year comes with high time sensitivity; USCIS frequently closes Chart B after several months once it reaches its filing targets. To navigate the upcoming wave of submissions, LYD Law advises applicants to act decisively:
- Sprint to File in October with 100% Complete Evidence: Applicants whose priority dates are current under Chart B should finalize their I-485 filing packages immediately. Under USCIS's strict evidentiary rules, officers possess full discretion to issue outright denials without an RFE for missing initial evidence. Ensure that Form I-693 medical exams, certified vital records, and continuous lawful status documents are completely assembled before mailing.
- Leverage the EB-3 Advancement via a "Downgrade" Strategy: For Mainland China, the October EB-3 Date for Filing (April 1, 2024) is a full 15 months ahead of the EB-2 Date for Filing (January 1, 2023). If you hold an approved employer-sponsored PERM EB-2 I-140 with a priority date between January 2023 and March 2024 (note: self-petitioned NIWs cannot be directly downgraded without an underlying PERM labor certification), consult with counsel immediately to evaluate filing an EB-3 downgrade concurrently with Form I-485 to lock in your work authorization and green card queue.
- Prepare for Chart B Closure or Steep Retrogression: The massive 15-month gap between EB-3 and EB-2 will inevitably push a surge of EB-2 applicants into the EB-3 downgrade channel. Historically, once USCIS receives a massive influx of filings in October and November, authorities often abruptly shut down Chart B or impose steep retrogressions on EB-3. Filing early in the fiscal year is the most reliable way to secure your benefits before the window shuts.
- Lock in Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) Coverage: For families with dependent children nearing the age of 21, submitting Form I-485 while Chart B remains open is a vital step toward freezing the child's age under the CSPA and preventing age-out complications.
Conclusion
The starting gun for FY 2027 has officially fired. In the face of an imminent filing surge, speed and meticulous preparation are paramount. Whether you are filing an adjustment of status directly, pursuing a strategic EB-2 to EB-3 downgrade, or protecting your dependent children under the CSPA, this is the most critical window of the year.
Do not wait until the opportunity slips away. Contact the experienced immigration team at LYD Law today for an individual priority date audit and downgrade evaluation to secure your place in the new fiscal year green card queue!
