The October 2026 Visa Bulletin is out, and it opens fiscal year 2027 with new dates across the family-sponsored categories. The F2A category (spouses and children of green card holders) now has a final action date of September 22, 2026 for most countries, F1, F2B, F3 and F4 stayed flat for most countries, and Mexico and the Philippines saw the biggest jumps. Here is what changed, what the dates mean, and what to check before you file anything.
The bulletin at a glance
Agency: U.S. Department of State
Covers: October 2026 (start of fiscal year 2027)
Who is affected: Family-sponsored preference categories F1, F2A, F2B, F3 and F4
What changes: Final action dates advanced for F2A everywhere and for several categories in Mexico, the Philippines and India.
What does not change: Spouses, parents and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens are not held to these dates.
Key Takeaways
- F2A moved forward about one month for most countries (to September 22, 2026) and seven months for Mexico (to March 22, 2026), and the Dates for Filing chart still shows F2A as current.
- F1, F3 and most of F2B and F4 did not move for the “all other countries” group, but Mexico, the Philippines and India each gained ground in at least one category.
- Your priority date only matters if you are in a preference category. If you are the spouse, parent or child under 21 of a U.S. citizen, the bulletin does not limit you.
What is the Visa Bulletin, and why does October matter?
The Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin every month. It tells people in the numerically limited categories whether a visa number is available for their priority date, which is the date your petition was filed. October is the first bulletin of a new fiscal year, so annual limits reset and dates often move. We covered the basics in our guide to where the Visa Bulletin stands in 2026, and our explanation of priority dates walks through how the date is set.
Each bulletin has two charts. The Final Action Dates chart shows when a visa can actually be approved. The Dates for Filing chart shows when you may be able to submit your adjustment of status application. USCIS announces each month which chart applicants inside the United States should use, on its When to File page for October 2026. Check that page before you file, because it decides which chart applies to you.
What are the October 2026 final action dates for family categories?
These dates come from the State Department’s October 2026 bulletin. A date means people whose priority date is earlier than that date can be approved.
| Category | All other countries | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jan. 22, 2020 | Jan. 22, 2020 | Sept. 8, 2008 | Nov. 1, 2013 |
| F2A | Sept. 22, 2026 | Sept. 22, 2026 | Mar. 22, 2026 | Sept. 22, 2026 |
| F2B | Aug. 22, 2019 | Aug. 22, 2019 | May 15, 2010 | Oct. 1, 2013 |
| F3 | Oct. 22, 2014 | Oct. 22, 2014 | July 1, 2001 | July 22, 2006 |
| F4 | Oct. 22, 2011 | Dec. 15, 2006 | Apr. 22, 2001 | May 15, 2008 |
China-mainland matches the “all other countries” column in each family category this month. Compare these with the September 2026 bulletin and the movement is easy to see.
What moved compared with September?
F1 (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, age 21 or older). The date for most countries stayed at January 22, 2020. Mexico moved from January 1, 2008 to September 8, 2008, and the Philippines moved from May 1, 2013 to November 1, 2013.
F2A (spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders). The date for most countries moved from August 22, 2026 to September 22, 2026. Mexico moved from August 22, 2025 to March 22, 2026, a jump of seven months. On the Dates for Filing chart, F2A is still current for every country.
F2B (unmarried sons and daughters, age 21 or older, of green card holders). The date for most countries and for India stayed at August 22, 2019. Mexico moved from February 15, 2009 to May 15, 2010, and the Philippines moved from June 1, 2013 to October 1, 2013.
F3 (married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens). Most countries did not move. The Philippines advanced from February 22, 2006 to July 22, 2006.
F4 (siblings of U.S. citizens). Most countries stayed at October 22, 2011. India moved from November 1, 2006 to December 15, 2006, Mexico from April 8, 2001 to April 22, 2001, and the Philippines from August 22, 2007 to May 15, 2008.
Does the Visa Bulletin apply to spouses of U.S. citizens?
No. Spouses, parents and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens are “immediate relatives,” and there is no annual cap on those visas. Their timeline depends on how fast USCIS or the consulate processes the case, not on a priority date. If you are married to a U.S. citizen, our explanation of the CR-1 spouse visa covers the process, and our marriage-based adjustment of status page explains how filing from inside the United States works.
The person most often confused by this is the spouse of a green card holder. That spouse is in F2A, not in the immediate relative group, so the bulletin does apply. The good news this month is that F2A is the category with the most forward movement for most countries.
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What should I do if my priority date is now current?
Start by confirming your category, your country of chargeability, and your priority date on your I-797 approval notice for the I-130. Then compare your date with the correct chart. Being “current” on paper does not mean you can file the same day; you still need a complete package, and mistakes can cost months. Three practical points:
Check which chart applies. USCIS decides each month whether people filing for adjustment of status use Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates. Consular processing cases follow the State Department’s process through the National Visa Center. The rules for the two paths are different.
Confirm you are eligible to adjust. A current priority date does not fix an entry without inspection, unauthorized work, or a status violation. Many people who are not eligible to adjust in the United States have other paths, and some of them involve a waiver. Our page on family-based green cards outlines the options.
Budget for the filing. Adjustment applications carry government fees, and the amounts change. Our post on the I-485 filing fee in 2026 lists what to expect.
What if my date has not moved?
Waiting is frustrating, but the dates can move again. Bulletins can advance, hold, or move backward (retrogress), depending on demand and the numbers available. Use the wait to get your documents in order: civil documents, evidence of your relationship, and, if you are a sponsor, proof that you meet the income requirements. Our overview of green card waiting times by country shows why the same category can take very different amounts of time depending on where you were born.
Keep your address current with USCIS and the National Visa Center, keep your visa status valid if you are in the United States on a temporary status, and avoid travel plans that could create problems until you have talked with an attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “current” mean on the Visa Bulletin?
A “C” means visa numbers are available to everyone in that category and country group, regardless of priority date. On the Dates for Filing chart, F2A shows “C” for every country this month.
Where do I find my priority date?
Your priority date is on your I-130 receipt or approval notice (Form I-797). It is the date the petition was properly filed. Our guide to the visa number and other numbers on your notices can help you tell them apart.
Can I file for adjustment of status as soon as my date is current?
Not automatically. You need a date that is current on the chart USCIS says applies for the month, and you must be eligible to adjust. If you are unsure, talk with an attorney before you file.
Will the November 2026 bulletin change these dates?
It might. The State Department releases a new bulletin each month, and dates can advance, stay the same, or move backward. We will update our guide when the November bulletin is published.
How We Can Help
We help families sort out where they stand under the Visa Bulletin: which category you are in, which chart applies, whether you are eligible to adjust, and what needs to be filed. If you are unsure whether you can wait, file, or need another route, call us at (407) 917-2087 or start with a free pre-evaluation. We review the facts to see whether we can help, and if it is a fit, we will invite you to a paid consultation with a written flat-fee quote.
Our founding attorney Denisse Ilabaca is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, a distinction held by fewer than two percent of Florida attorneys.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Ilabaca Law, PLLC. Immigration rules and visa dates change often, so talk with a licensed attorney about your situation before you act.