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VISA BULLETIN HISTORY

Visa Bulletin Trends: How Cutoff Dates Moved, October 2025 to October 2026

Across the 13 Visa Bulletins from October 2025 to October 2026, most Final Action Dates moved forward, but not evenly. Family cutoffs such as F4 and F2A advanced by years, while several employment cutoffs moved backward when fiscal year 2027 began in October 2026.

Every date below is copied from the official U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for that month and linked to its source. Past movement is not a forecast of future cutoffs or of your own case.

Dataset coverage: This historical analysis includes 13 monthly Visa Bulletins from October 2025 through October 2026. The November 2026 Bulletin has been published but is not yet included in these calculations. For the latest published dates, consult the official Department of State Bulletin or our current Visa Bulletin page once updated.

History: October 2025 to October 2026 Visa Bulletins, captured from travel.state.gov and checked on Oct 27, 2026. This month’s tables are on our Visa Bulletin page.

Key takeaways

How to read these Visa Bulletin trends

Each value is the Final Action Date cutoff for a preference category and country of chargeability. A later date means the line moved forward. “Current” means no cutoff applied that month, and “Unavailable” means no visa numbers were authorized.

These tables track Final Action Dates. USCIS decides each month whether adjustment-of-status applicants use Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing; see its filing charts page and our guide to Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing.

How did employment-based cutoffs move?

Employment-based cutoffs moved forward for most countries during fiscal year 2026, then several moved back in the October 2026 bulletin, the first of fiscal year 2027.

Employment-based Final Action Dates, October 2025 vs October 2026
CategoryCountriesOctober 2025October 2026Net changeBackward moves
EB-1All other countries, Mexico, PhilippinesCurrentCurrentCurrent in all 13 bulletins0
EB-1China (mainland-born)Dec 22, 2022Jul 1, 2023+191 days0
EB-1IndiaFeb 15, 2022Feb 1, 2023+351 days2
EB-2All other countries, Mexico, PhilippinesDec 1, 2023Jan 1, 2025+397 days1
EB-2China (mainland-born)Apr 1, 2021Oct 1, 2021+183 days0
EB-2IndiaApr 1, 2013Nov 1, 2013+214 days2
EB-3All other countries, MexicoApr 1, 2023May 15, 2024+410 days1
EB-3China (mainland-born)Mar 1, 2021Jan 8, 2022+313 days0
EB-3IndiaAug 22, 2013Jan 1, 2014+132 days0
EB-3PhilippinesApr 1, 2023Aug 15, 2023+136 days0
EB-3 Other WorkersAll other countries, MexicoJul 15, 2021Jan 1, 2022+170 days1
EB-3 Other WorkersChina (mainland-born)Dec 1, 2017Oct 1, 2019+669 days0
EB-3 Other WorkersIndiaAug 22, 2013Jan 1, 2014+132 days0
EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippinesJul 15, 2021Jan 1, 2022+170 days0
EB-4All other countries, China (mainland-born), India, Mexico, PhilippinesJul 1, 2020Dec 15, 2022+897 days0
EB-4 Religious WorkersAll other countries, China (mainland-born), India, Mexico, PhilippinesUnavailableDec 15, 2022Unavailable → Dec 15, 20221
EB-5 UnreservedAll other countries, Mexico, PhilippinesCurrentCurrentCurrent in all 13 bulletins0
EB-5 UnreservedChina (mainland-born)Dec 8, 2015Dec 1, 2016+359 days0
EB-5 UnreservedIndiaFeb 1, 2021Dec 1, 2023+1,033 days1
EB-5 Rural set-asideAll other countries, China (mainland-born), India, Mexico, PhilippinesCurrentCurrentCurrent in all 13 bulletins0
EB-5 High Unemployment set-asideAll other countries, China (mainland-born), India, Mexico, PhilippinesCurrentCurrentCurrent in all 13 bulletins0
EB-5 Infrastructure set-asideAll other countries, China (mainland-born), India, Mexico, PhilippinesCurrentCurrentCurrent in all 13 bulletins0

How did family-sponsored cutoffs move?

No family-sponsored Final Action Date moved backward in this window. The size of the advance varied widely by country.

Family-sponsored Final Action Dates, October 2025 vs October 2026
CategoryCountriesOctober 2025October 2026Net changeBackward moves
F1All other countries, China (mainland-born), IndiaNov 8, 2016Jan 22, 2020+1,170 days0
F1MexicoNov 22, 2005Sep 8, 2008+1,021 days0
F1PhilippinesJan 22, 2013Nov 1, 2013+283 days0
F2AAll other countries, China (mainland-born), India, PhilippinesFeb 1, 2024Sep 22, 2026+964 days0
F2AMexicoFeb 1, 2023Mar 22, 2026+1,145 days0
F2BAll other countries, China (mainland-born), IndiaNov 22, 2016Aug 22, 2019+1,003 days0
F2BMexicoDec 15, 2007May 15, 2010+882 days0
F2BPhilippinesOct 1, 2012Oct 1, 2013+365 days0
F3All other countries, China (mainland-born), IndiaSep 8, 2011Oct 22, 2014+1,140 days0
F3MexicoApr 15, 2001Jul 1, 2001+77 days0
F3PhilippinesSep 22, 2004Jul 22, 2006+668 days0
F4All other countries, China (mainland-born)Jan 8, 2008Oct 22, 2011+1,383 days0
F4IndiaNov 1, 2006Dec 15, 2006+44 days0
F4MexicoApr 8, 2001Apr 22, 2001+14 days0
F4PhilippinesMar 22, 2006May 15, 2008+785 days0

EB-2 and EB-3 month by month

EB-2 and EB-3 are the most watched employment categories. This table shows every Final Action Date in the window for all other countries, India and China (mainland-born).

EB-2 and EB-3 Final Action Dates by bulletin, October 2025 to October 2026
BulletinEB-2 · All other countriesEB-2 · IndiaEB-2 · China (mainland-born)EB-3 · All other countriesEB-3 · IndiaEB-3 · China (mainland-born)
October 2025Dec 1, 2023Apr 1, 2013Apr 1, 2021Apr 1, 2023Aug 22, 2013Mar 1, 2021
November 2025Dec 1, 2023Apr 1, 2013Apr 1, 2021Apr 1, 2023Aug 22, 2013Mar 1, 2021
December 2025Feb 1, 2024May 15, 2013Jun 1, 2021Apr 15, 2023Sep 22, 2013Apr 1, 2021
January 2026Apr 1, 2024Jul 15, 2013Sep 1, 2021Apr 22, 2023Nov 15, 2013May 1, 2021
February 2026Apr 1, 2024Jul 15, 2013Sep 1, 2021Jun 1, 2023Nov 15, 2013May 1, 2021
March 2026Oct 15, 2024Sep 15, 2013Sep 1, 2021Oct 1, 2023Nov 15, 2013May 1, 2021
April 2026CurrentJul 15, 2014Sep 1, 2021Jun 1, 2024Nov 15, 2013Jun 15, 2021
May 2026CurrentJul 15, 2014Sep 1, 2021Jun 1, 2024Nov 15, 2013Jun 15, 2021
June 2026CurrentSep 1, 2013Sep 1, 2021Jun 1, 2024Dec 15, 2013Aug 1, 2021
July 2026CurrentUnavailableSep 1, 2021Aug 1, 2024Jan 1, 2014Dec 22, 2021
August 2026CurrentUnavailableSep 1, 2021Sep 1, 2024Jan 1, 2014Jan 1, 2022
September 2026CurrentUnavailableSep 1, 2021Sep 1, 2024Jan 1, 2014Jan 1, 2022
October 2026Jan 1, 2025Nov 1, 2013Oct 1, 2021May 15, 2024Jan 1, 2014Jan 8, 2022

F2A and F4 month by month

F2A and F4 show how differently one category can move by country. Mexico has its own F2A cutoff, and F4 India and F4 Mexico stayed almost still.

F2A and F4 Final Action Dates by bulletin, October 2025 to October 2026
BulletinF2A · All other countriesF2A · MexicoF4 · All other countriesF4 · IndiaF4 · Mexico
October 2025Feb 1, 2024Feb 1, 2023Jan 8, 2008Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
November 2025Feb 1, 2024Feb 1, 2023Jan 8, 2008Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
December 2025Feb 1, 2024Feb 1, 2023Jan 8, 2008Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
January 2026Feb 1, 2024Feb 1, 2023Jan 8, 2008Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
February 2026Feb 1, 2024Feb 1, 2023Jan 8, 2008Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
March 2026Feb 1, 2024Feb 1, 2023Jan 8, 2008Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
April 2026Feb 1, 2024Feb 1, 2023Jun 8, 2008Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
May 2026Aug 1, 2024Aug 1, 2023Sep 15, 2008Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
June 2026Jan 1, 2025Jan 1, 2024Nov 8, 2008Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
July 2026Jan 1, 2025Jan 1, 2024Jan 1, 2009Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
August 2026Jul 22, 2026Jul 22, 2025Sep 1, 2009Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
September 2026Aug 22, 2026Aug 22, 2025Oct 22, 2011Nov 1, 2006Apr 8, 2001
October 2026Sep 22, 2026Mar 22, 2026Oct 22, 2011Dec 15, 2006Apr 22, 2001

Which categories moved backward?

A backward move is called retrogression. In this window it happened only in employment-based categories. Each line is linked to the bulletin above.

Why do Visa Bulletin cutoffs move backward?

USCIS says retrogression happens when more people apply in a category or country than there are visas available that month. It typically happens toward the end of the fiscal year.

Can past trends predict when your priority date will be current?

No. Past movement shows what the State Department published, not what it will publish next. USCIS lists the variables it considers: visas used so far, projected demand and visas remaining under the annual limits.

Cutoffs can advance, hold, retrogress or become unavailable in any month. Visa Current does not predict cutoff dates, approval or processing times.

Is the November 2026 Visa Bulletin included?

Not yet. This history ends with the October 2026 bulletin. The State Department has published the Visa Bulletin for November 2026, and you can read it on travel.state.gov now.

Older bulletins are in the official Visa Bulletin archive. This page will add months as they are captured and checked.

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Visa Current (visacurrent.com) is an independent online preparation workspace for people going through the U.S. immigration process. It organizes official Visa Bulletin dates, form roadmaps, case check-in reminders and practice flashcards in one place. It does not file applications, does not provide legal advice and is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.

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Official sources and last verification

The cutoff values were captured from these bulletins and checked on Oct 27, 2026. If anything here differs from the official bulletin, the official bulletin is correct.

Visa Current is an independent service, not a government agency or law firm. This page is information, not legal advice. Past cutoff movement does not predict future dates, approval or eligibility.