Every October 1, the federal government’s fiscal year resets, and with it comes a fresh allocation of immigrant visa numbers. For the hundreds of thousands of people waiting for employment-based and family-preference green cards, the October visa bulletin is one of the most anticipated publications of the year. Categories that were backlogged or unavailable in September can suddenly move forward. Priority dates that were stuck for months may advance by weeks or even years overnight.
The FY2027 visa bulletin, effective October 1, 2026, is particularly significant because several employment-based categories experienced severe retrogression (backward movement) during the final months of FY2026. Understanding what the reset means for your specific category and country of birth is essential for timing your adjustment of status or consular processing filing.
At The Lozano Law Firm, Board-Certified Immigration Attorney Alfredo Lozano monitors the visa bulletin monthly and advises clients on the strategic timing of their green card filings. This guide explains how the visa bulletin works, what to watch for in October 2026, and how to take advantage of the fiscal year reset.
How the Visa Bulletin Works
The Department of State publishes the visa bulletin monthly, and it controls when applicants with approved immigrant petitions can take the final step toward a green card, whether that is filing Form I-485 for adjustment of status or scheduling a consular interview abroad.
The bulletin has two charts that matter:
Chart A: Final Action Dates. This chart shows the priority date that must be current for your visa to be issued. If your priority date is on or before the date listed for your category and country, your visa number is available and you can complete your case.
Chart B: Dates for Filing. This chart shows an earlier date that determines when you can submit your adjustment of status application, even if a visa number is not yet available for final action. USCIS decides each month whether to honor Chart B for adjustment filings. When Chart B is open, it allows applicants to file I-485 earlier, start accruing time for employment authorization, and get into the processing queue sooner.
The bulletin is organized by preference category (family-based F1 through F4, and employment-based EB-1 through EB-5) and by the applicant’s country of birth (with separate columns for China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and all other countries).
What Happens at the Fiscal Year Reset
Each fiscal year, Congress allocates approximately 226,000 family-based and 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas. Within those totals, each preference category receives a percentage allocation, and no single country can receive more than 7% of the total.
At the start of the fiscal year (October 1), unused visa numbers are redistributed and categories that were capped or unavailable in September typically receive fresh numbers. This often produces the largest forward movement of the year.
What this means practically:
- Categories marked “U” (unavailable) in September may reopen in October with specific cutoff dates
- Categories that retrogressed (moved backward) during the year may jump forward as new numbers become available
- The EB-1 category, which became unavailable for Indian nationals in mid-FY2026, is expected to reopen in October with a new cutoff date
- EB-2 India, which was also unavailable or severely retrogressed through September, is expected to receive new numbers
The exact dates will not be known until the Department of State publishes the October bulletin, typically in mid-September.
Categories to Watch in October 2026
Based on FY2026 trends and historical patterns, here are the categories most likely to see significant movement at the FY2027 reset.
EB-1 (all subcategories). The EB-1 category for extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, and multinational managers was current for all countries through much of FY2026 but retrogressed for India as demand exceeded supply. The October reset should reopen EB-1 India with a cutoff date, giving applicants with approved I-140 petitions an opportunity to file or advance their cases.
EB-2. The EB-2 category for professionals with advanced degrees experienced the most severe retrogression in FY2026, particularly for Indian and Chinese nationals. Fresh FY2027 numbers should produce forward movement, though the degree of advancement depends on demand and spillover from other categories.
EB-3. The EB-3 category for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers may see moderate forward movement. The “other workers” subcategory (limited to 10,000 visas annually) tends to be the most constrained.
Family preferences. The F-2A category (spouses and minor children of permanent residents) has been current for most countries in recent years, and this is likely to continue. Other family preference categories (F-1, F-2B, F-3, F-4) tend to move slowly and are less affected by the fiscal year reset.
How to Use the Visa Bulletin Strategically
If your priority date is close to becoming current:
Monitor the bulletin monthly. When the October bulletin is published (usually in mid-September), compare your priority date against both Chart A and Chart B. If Chart B is available and your date is current under it, be ready to file I-485 immediately.
If you have an approved I-140 but have not filed I-485: The fiscal year reset is the time to prepare your adjustment package. Gather medical exams (Form I-693, valid for two years), update civil documents, prepare affidavits of support, and have your attorney ready to file as soon as the bulletin allows.
If you are considering consular processing vs. adjustment: The visa bulletin affects both pathways, but the timing dynamics differ. Consular processing cases are scheduled through the National Visa Center, and NVC scheduling may lag behind the bulletin by several months. Adjustment of status can be filed immediately when Chart B or Chart A dates are current.
If you have multiple options (EB-2 vs. EB-3, for example): The October bulletin may show one category with a more favorable date than the other. This is when the downgrade strategy (filing under EB-3 when EB-3 dates are more favorable than EB-2) or cross-chargeability (using a spouse’s country of birth) becomes valuable.
The Connection Between the Visa Bulletin and Your Priority Date
Your priority date is the date that determines your place in line for a green card. For employment-based cases, the priority date is typically the date your PERM labor certification application was filed with the Department of Labor. For family-based cases, it is the date your I-130 petition was filed with USCIS.
The visa bulletin tells you when your turn has arrived. When the cutoff date for your category and country moves past your priority date, you are eligible to complete the final step of the green card process.
Priority dates do not change once established (with some exceptions for porting between categories). What changes is the visa bulletin itself, which moves forward as new visas become available and moves backward when demand exceeds supply.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the October 2026 visa bulletin published?
The Department of State typically publishes the October visa bulletin in mid-September 2026. The dates in the October bulletin take effect on October 1.
What does “U” (unavailable) mean on the visa bulletin?
“U” means no visa numbers are available in that category for that country. You cannot file for adjustment of status or schedule a consular interview in a category marked “U.” This status often resolves at the fiscal year reset when new numbers are allocated.
Should I file under Chart A or Chart B?
Chart B allows earlier filing but does not mean your visa will be issued sooner. Check the USCIS monthly filing chart announcement (separate from the DOS visa bulletin) to confirm whether USCIS is accepting Chart B filings for your category. Filing under Chart B gets you into the queue and allows you to apply for an EAD and advance parole while waiting.
Can I change from EB-2 to EB-3 if the dates are better?
Yes, but it requires filing a new PERM application and a new I-140 petition under the EB-3 category. You cannot simply reclassify an existing EB-2 case. The new PERM establishes a new priority date, so this strategy only makes sense when EB-3 dates are far enough ahead to offset the time required for the new filing.
How does the visa bulletin affect my family members?
Derivative beneficiaries (your spouse and unmarried children under 21) use the same priority date and preference category as the principal applicant. When your date is current, theirs is too. Child aging-out under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) is a separate analysis your attorney should evaluate.
Be Ready When Your Date Becomes Current
The October visa bulletin can open doors that were closed just days earlier. Being prepared to file immediately when your priority date becomes current can save months of waiting.
Board-Certified Immigration Attorney Alfredo Lozano holds Board Certification in Immigration and Nationality Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by fewer than 5% of Texas immigration attorneys. The Lozano Law Firm monitors the visa bulletin monthly and helps clients across San Antonio, Eagle Pass, and San Angelo time their filings for maximum advantage.
Contact us to review your priority date and filing strategy ahead of the FY2027 reset.
