October 2026 Visa Bulletin Predictions: What EB-2 NIW and Family-Based Applicants Should Watch

October 2026 Visa Bulletin Predictions: What EB-2 NIW and Family-Based Applicants Should Watch

Short answer: as of September 9, 2026, the official October 2026 Visa Bulletin has not been published yet. The State Department's Visa Bulletin page still lists September 2026 as the current bulletin and shows the upcoming bulletin as "Coming Soon." The clearest official clue so far is the State Department's July note that EB-2 India should advance in October to at least the final-action date shown in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, which was 15JUL14. For family-based cases, the current September bulletin still shows F2A current for filing while other family-preference categories remain backlogged. [1][2][3][4]

That means the safest reading today is not "October is known." It is:

• the official October chart is still pending,
• EB-2 India and therefore many EB-2 NIW India cases should watch for a fiscal-year reset on October 1, 2026,
• F2A remains the strongest family-based category going into October,
• and applicants should avoid making filing decisions based on rumors or recycled charts. [1][2][3][4]

If you want the current family chart first, our September 2026 family-based guide, EB-2 India unavailable update, and broader I-485 adjustment-of-status guide may also help.

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As of today, the State Department's main Visa Bulletin page still shows:

• Current Visa Bulletin: September 2026
• Upcoming Visa Bulletin: Coming Soon [1]

That matters because many prediction pages online are written as if the October bulletin is already known. It is not. Until the official bulletin is posted, any October discussion should be treated as an informed expectation rather than a confirmed filing or approval chart.

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The strongest official clue for October comes from the July 2026 Visa Bulletin.

There, the State Department said:

• EB-2 India became unavailable for the rest of FY 2026, and
• in October, the final-action date is likely to advance to at least the final-action date announced in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin. [3]

In the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-2 India final-action date was 15JUL14. [4]

That does not guarantee that October will stop at 15JUL14. It means the government itself has already signaled that the October reset should move the category forward from the current September unavailable status to at least that earlier May benchmark. For many EB-2 NIW India applicants, that is the single most important official data point available today. [2][3][4]

The State Department also separately announced on May 22, 2026 that all available FY 2026 EB-2 immigrant visas for India had been used and that issuance may resume when the annual limits reset on October 1, 2026. [5]

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The current September 2026 bulletin gives the baseline from which October will move.

For Final Action Dates, the State Department currently lists:

For readers watching EB-2 NIW, remember that NIW cases use the EB-2 category for Visa Bulletin purposes. [2]

The practical outlook is:

• EB-2 India / NIW India: the biggest likely October change, because September is still unavailable;
• EB-2 China: still backlogged, so even if October improves, a large jump should not be assumed;
• EB-1 India: a reset may help, but heavy demand remains part of the picture;
• ROW categories: generally stronger than oversubscribed India and China categories, but still worth checking chart by chart once October is posted. [2][3]

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Family-based applicants should separate what is true now from what may happen next.

In the September 2026 bulletin:

• F2A is current on the Dates for Filing chart for every listed chargeability area;
• F2A on the Final Action Dates chart is very close to current for most chargeability areas;
• F1, F2B, F3, and F4 remain backlogged and still require precise priority-date review. [2]

The current family-based filing chart is:

Because October starts a new fiscal year, some readers hope for a dramatic family-based reset. That can happen in limited ways, but family-preference movement is usually more measured than a simple "new year, everything becomes current" expectation. Based on the September charts, F2A enters October from the strongest position, while the other family-preference categories still look like categories where incremental movement is more realistic than a sudden open window. [2]

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While the official October chart is still pending, this is usually the time to prepare rather than guess.

If you are in EB-2 or EB-2 NIW

• confirm your priority date and chargeability;
• review whether you may be eligible to file Form I-485 once October guidance is posted;
• organize civil documents, identity records, and any filing-sensitive evidence now;
• and watch both the State Department bulletin and the USCIS monthly When to File page, because the bulletin alone does not answer which chart USCIS will allow adjustment applicants to use. [1][2]

If you are in a family-preference category

• compare your priority date against the correct September 2026 chart now;
• if you are in F2A, do not assume "current for filing" means every case is automatically ready;
• and if your date is close in F1, F2B, F3, or F4, use this waiting period to organize sponsor and civil-document evidence. [2]

If your case is time-sensitive

The October bulletin can open or close short filing windows. If your case involves status expiration, age-out concerns, travel plans, or a complicated filing strategy, individualized legal review may help prevent a missed opportunity or a preventable filing mistake.

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1. U.S. Department of State - The Visa Bulletin
2. U.S. Department of State - Visa Bulletin for September 2026
3. U.S. Department of State - Visa Bulletin for July 2026
4. U.S. Department of State - Visa Bulletin for May 2026
5. U.S. Department of State - India Per-Country Limit Reached in the EB-2 Category
6. USCIS - When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas

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FAQ

Has the official October 2026 Visa Bulletin been released yet?

No. As of September 9, 2026, the State Department still lists September 2026 as the current bulletin and shows the upcoming bulletin as "Coming Soon." [1]

What is the clearest official October clue for EB-2 India?

The July 2026 Visa Bulletin says the October EB-2 India final-action date is likely to advance to at least the date shown in the May 2026 bulletin, which was 15JUL14. [3][4]

Does that EB-2 India clue also matter for EB-2 NIW applicants?

Usually, yes. EB-2 NIW cases still use the EB-2 visa category for Visa Bulletin movement, so the same cutoffs matter unless another case-specific issue changes the filing strategy. [2][3][4]

Is F2A still current going into October 2026?

For September 2026 filing purposes, yes. The State Department lists F2A as current on the family-based Dates for Filing chart. [2]

Can I rely on a prediction article to decide whether I may file Form I-485 in October?

No. A prediction article can help you prepare, but actual filing eligibility depends on the official October Visa Bulletin and the related monthly USCIS chart-selection guidance.

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Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is not a substitute for advice based on your specific facts.