October 2026 Visa Bulletin Released: What EB-2 NIW and Family-Based Applicants Should Know

October 2026 Visa Bulletin Released: What EB-2 NIW and Family-Based Applicants Should Know

Short answer: USCIS now says both family-sponsored and employment-based adjustment applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart in October 2026. For family-based cases, F2A remains current, while F2B Mexico and the Philippines, F3 Mexico and the Philippines, and F4 India and the Philippines all move forward on the filing chart. For EB-2 NIW, remember the case follows the EB-2 line for Visa Bulletin purposes, and USCIS's October filing chart lists 15MAR26 for most countries, 01JAN23 for China, and 15JAN15 for India. [1][2]

That is a material change from the mid-September "wait and see" posture. The October cycle is now live for filing planning, but the chart still does not answer every question about approval timing, consular scheduling, or case-specific eligibility.

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

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USCIS's October 2026 filing page gives two important answers for adjustment applicants inside the United States.

• Family-sponsored applicants: use the Dates for Filing chart. [1]
• Employment-based applicants: also use the Dates for Filing chart. [1]

That second point matters for EB-2 NIW applicants. In September 2026, USCIS used the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based cases. In October 2026, USCIS switches employment-based adjustment filings to the Dates for Filing chart instead. [1][2]

For many readers, that is the real headline: the October chart is not just a new month. It is also a different filing rule for employment-based adjustment cases.

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For family-sponsored adjustment filings, USCIS lists the following October 2026 Dates for Filing chart: [1]

Compared with September 2026, the most important family-based takeaways are: [1][2]

• F2A remains current for filing in every listed chargeability area.
• F1 stays unchanged on the October filing chart.
• F2B advances for Mexico and the Philippines, while the other listed columns remain unchanged.
• F3 advances for Mexico and the Philippines, while the other listed columns remain unchanged.
• F4 advances for India and the Philippines, while the other listed columns remain unchanged.

For many families, the practical message is continuity rather than a dramatic reset. F2A remains the strongest filing position, while the other family-preference categories still require close priority-date review instead of assumptions based on the new fiscal year alone.

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For employment-based adjustment filings, USCIS says applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart in October 2026. The most relevant rows for many employment-based readers are: [1]

If your case is a National Interest Waiver, the key point is simple: NIW cases use the EB-2 category for Visa Bulletin purposes. That means an EB-2 NIW India applicant looks to the EB-2 India date, an EB-2 NIW China applicant looks to the EB-2 China date, and so on.

The October filing chart therefore means:

• many EB-2 NIW rest-of-world applicants should check whether their priority date is earlier than 15MAR26;
• EB-2 NIW China applicants should compare against 01JAN23;
• EB-2 NIW India applicants should compare against 15JAN15;
• and applicants should still confirm the exact priority date, chargeability, and overall adjustment eligibility before filing. [1]

This page is about filing eligibility with USCIS. If you are outside the United States and moving through NVC or a consulate, the Department of State's own October bulletin and consular processing steps still matter separately. [3][4]

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An October filing chart can be extremely helpful, but it does not answer everything.

It does not guarantee fast approval

Being eligible to file Form I-485 is not the same as being ready for final approval. Background review, inadmissibility issues, missing evidence, medical-exam timing, and category movement later in the fiscal year can still affect the outcome.

It does not replace case-specific eligibility analysis

Some applicants have a current or fileable priority date but still face issues involving:

• lawful entry,
• maintenance of status,
• unauthorized employment,
• travel history,
• public-charge documentation,
• or affidavit-of-support questions in family-based cases.

It does not control every consular case abroad

Applicants processing outside the United States still need to track the Department of State side of the case, including document qualification, interview scheduling, and the distinction between filing eligibility and visa issuance timing. [3]

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Often worth moving quickly

• F2A applicants who are otherwise ready to file and can assemble a clean package.
• Family-preference applicants whose dates newly fit the October filing chart and who already have civil and sponsor evidence lined up.
• EB-2 NIW applicants whose priority dates now fall before the October EB-2 filing date and who are otherwise adjustment-eligible.

Often worth double-checking before filing

• applicants who are close to the date but unsure about the correct priority date or chargeability;
• family-based applicants with status-history, travel, or inadmissibility concerns;
• and employment-based applicants who are current on the filing chart but still need to confirm whether the rest of the I-485 package is actually ready.

If a case is time-sensitive because of travel, age-out risk, expiring nonimmigrant status, or a complicated filing history, legal review can help prevent a filing made on the right chart but on the wrong facts.

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1. USCIS - When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: October 2026
2. USCIS - When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: September 2026
3. U.S. Department of State - Visa Bulletin for October 2026
4. USCIS - Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin

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FAQ

Does USCIS allow family-sponsored applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart in October 2026?

Yes. USCIS says family-sponsored applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart in October 2026. [1]

Is F2A current for October 2026 filing purposes?

Yes. On the October 2026 Dates for Filing chart, F2A remains current in every listed chargeability area. [1]

What October 2026 filing date applies to EB-2 NIW applicants?

An EB-2 NIW case uses the EB-2 line. On USCIS's October 2026 Dates for Filing chart, the EB-2 filing date is 15MAR26 for most countries, 01JAN23 for China, and 15JAN15 for India. [1]

Does an October filing date mean my green card will be approved right away?

No. A fileable priority date can allow the case to be submitted, but it does not guarantee a quick approval. Case-specific eligibility, supporting evidence, background review, and later visa-number movement still matter.

If I am processing abroad, does the USCIS filing chart decide my whole case?

No. The USCIS filing chart is critical for adjustment of status filings inside the United States. If your case is moving through NVC or a consulate, the Department of State process and visa-issuance timing still matter separately. [3][4]

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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.