US Visa Bulletin for Indians: EB-2 Reopens, EB-1 Moves Forward
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Big news for Indians waiting on a US green card: the October 2026 US Visa Bulletin reopened two employment-based categories frozen in September and pushed another forward. EB-2 India is available again, unreserved EB-5 has returned, and EB-1’s cutoff moved ahead by several months. Here’s what changed.
October 2026 Bulletin: Key Date Changes for India
Fiscal year 2027 began 1 October, resetting visa numbers. The Final Action Dates that matter most for Indian applicants:
| Category | September 2026 | October 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 India | 15 Oct 2022 | 1 Feb 2023 | Advanced ~3.5 months |
| EB-2 India | Unavailable | 1 Nov 2013 | Reopened |
| EB-5 unreserved India | Unavailable | 1 Dec 2023 | Reopened |
| F1 India (family) | 22 Jan 2020 | 22 Jan 2020 | No change |
| F2A India (family) | 22 Aug 2026 | 22 Sep 2026 | Advanced 1 month |
| F2B India (family) | 22 Aug 2019 | 22 Aug 2019 | No change |
| F3 India (family) | 22 Oct 2014 | 22 Oct 2014 | No change |
| F4 India (family) | 1 Nov 2006 | 15 Dec 2006 | Advanced ~6 weeks |
Released unusually late this month — check it against your own priority date.
What the EB-2 Reopening Means for Indian Applicants
EB-2 covers professionals with advanced degrees and people of exceptional ability — a large share of Indian applicants. “Unavailable” in September after the fiscal 2026 allocation ran out, it’s back with the new fiscal year’s reset on 1 October: Final Action Date 1 November 2013:
- Priority date before 1 November 2013? Your case may now qualify.
- Priority date later? You’re still in the queue — but a moving category beats a frozen one.
- “Current” isn’t instant: USCIS processing still takes its own time.
Other countries’ categories moved backwards in the same bulletin — dates can move both ways.
EB-1 and EB-5: What Moved and Why It Matters
EB-1 India — priority workers including people of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational executives — advanced from 15 October 2022 to 1 February 2023, a meaningful ~3.5-month jump for a category that often crawls.
EB-5 unreserved India — the investor route — reopened at 1 December 2023; September’s stuck investors can check where they stand again.
Family categories saw limited movement: F2A and F4 inched forward; F1, F2B and F3 stayed put.
What to Do If Your Priority Date Is Current
- Confirm your priority date on your I-140 approval notice or with your attorney — don’t guess from memory.
- Check which chart USCIS allows this month. Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing aren’t the same — USCIS announces which chart adjustment applicants may use.
- Gather documents early. Medical exams, police clearances and financial evidence take weeks.
- Talk to an immigration attorney. Bulletin movement creates deadlines; a professional can tell you whether to file, wait or prepare.
- Keep watching monthly — further adjustments may follow.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the EB-2 Final Action Date for India in October 2026?
1 November 2013 — reopened after September’s freeze exhausted the prior fiscal year’s allocation.
Q2. What does “Final Action Date” mean?
The cutoff date up to which green cards can actually be approved — earlier priority dates may proceed to final approval, subject to USCIS processing.
Q3. What’s the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?
Final Action Dates govern final approval; Dates for Filing govern when documentation may be submitted. USCIS announces monthly which chart applies.
Q4. My EB-2 priority date is in 2014. What should I do?
Not yet current (cutoff 1 November 2013). Keep documents ready, monitor monthly bulletins, and consult an attorney about preparing.
Q5. Can dates move backwards again?
Yes — dates adjust with demand and annual limits, and several other countries’ categories retrogressed in this very bulletin. Treat each month’s dates as current information, not a promise.
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Sources
- Times Now — “October 2026 Visa Bulletin Changes: Major Green Card Boost For Indians” (29 September 2026): https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/october-2026-visa-bulletin-changes-green-card-update-for-indians-eb1-eb2-categories-uscis-dhs-article-156248280/amp
- Business Today — “US Visa Bulletin October 2026: EB 1 India moves forward, EB 2 becomes available again” (1 October 2026): https://www.businesstoday.in/nri/visa/story/us-visa-bulletin-october-2026-eb-1-india-moves-forward-eb-2-becomes-available-again-559114-2026-10-01