October Visa Bulletin Shows Limited Movement in Family-Based Green Card Categories
NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of State’s October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the first bulletin of fiscal year 2027, shows more limited movement in family-based immigrant visa categories than the broad advances seen in September, with some categories remaining unchanged and others advancing modestly.
For applicants from Nepal and most other countries, the October bulletin leaves several major family-sponsored categories at the same final action dates established in September. The biggest changes include a one-month advance in the F2A category and notable movement in the cutoff dates for Mexico and the Philippines.
The bulletin governs the availability of immigrant visa numbers during October and provides both “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications.” For adjustment-of-status applicants in the United States, USCIS will allow applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart in October, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Under Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit is 226,000. The per-country limit for family- and employment-based preference immigrants is generally 7 percent of the applicable annual limits.
For Nepali applicants, Nepal falls under the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column because it is not separately listed in the bulletin.
Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
The F1 category, covering unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, did not advance for Nepal and most other countries.
The final action date remains Jan. 22, 2020, the same as in September. Mexico remains at Sept. 8, 2008, while the Philippines remains at Nov. 1, 2013.
The Dates for Filing also remain unchanged for Nepal and most other countries at Feb. 1, 2020. Mexico remains at Dec. 1, 2008, and the Philippines at April 22, 2015.
Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
The F2A category, covering spouses and children of lawful permanent residents, moved forward by one month for Nepal and most other countries.
The final action date advanced from Aug. 22, 2026, to Sept. 22, 2026, for applicants from all chargeability areas, mainland China, India and the Philippines. Mexico advanced from Aug. 22, 2025, to March 22, 2026.
The Dates for Filing are Current for all countries, meaning there is no priority-date cutoff on the State Department’s filing chart.
The bulletin specifies that F2A numbers exempt from the per-country limit are available to applicants with priority dates earlier than March 22, 2026. For most countries other than Mexico, numbers subject to the per-country limit are available for priority dates beginning March 22, 2026, and earlier than Sept. 22, 2026.
Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents
The F2B category, for unmarried sons and daughters age 21 or older of permanent residents, remained unchanged for Nepal and most other countries.
The final action date remains Aug. 22, 2019, while Mexico moved forward from Feb. 15, 2009, to May 15, 2010. The Philippines remains at Oct. 1, 2013.
The Dates for Filing remain Sept. 1, 2019, for Nepal and most other countries. Mexico’s filing date is March 22, 2011, while the Philippines remains at Oct. 1, 2014.
Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
The F3 category, covering married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, also remained unchanged for Nepal and most other countries.
The final action date remains Oct. 22, 2014, for applicants from Nepal, mainland China and India. Mexico remains at July 1, 2001, while the Philippines advanced from Feb. 22, 2006, to July 22, 2006.
For Dates for Filing, Nepal and most other countries remain at Nov. 1, 2014. Mexico is at Dec. 1, 2002, while the Philippines advanced to Oct. 22, 2006.
Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
The F4 category showed several modest advances.
For Nepal and most other countries, the final action date remains Oct. 22, 2011. India advanced from Nov. 1, 2006, to Dec. 15, 2006; Mexico moved from April 8, 2001, to April 22, 2001; and the Philippines advanced from Aug. 22, 2007, to May 15, 2008.
The Dates for Filing remain Nov. 1, 2011, for Nepal and most other countries. India moved to Feb. 1, 2007; Mexico remains at April 30, 2001; and the Philippines advanced to March 22, 2009.
FY2027 Brings a New Allocation of Visa Numbers
The October bulletin marks the beginning of fiscal year 2027. The State Department said that with the availability of FY2027 immigrant visa numbers, Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates have advanced across various immigrant visa categories.
The bulletin comes after a major change in the status of the State Department’s January suspension of immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries, including Nepal.
On Aug. 21, U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas in Manhattan vacated the policy. The State Department subsequently said that, as of Aug. 21, the January 2026 pause on immigrant visa issuance to nationals of the 75 countries was no longer in effect.
The government has appealed the ruling, but Judge Vargas declined in September to put the ruling on hold while the appeal proceeds.