October 2026 Visa Bulletin - FY2027 Begins

What changes on October 1

• Fresh annual allocation: 140,000 employment-based green cards
• Per-country cap resets: 7% of total = approximately 9,800 per country per year
• EB-5 set-aside fresh allocations: Rural 20%, High Unemployment 10%, Infrastructure 2%
• Family-sponsored: 226,000 new numbers
• Potential Chart B reopening for employment-based
• USCIS may announce which chart to use in late September
• Processing time targets reset

October predictions - employment-based

• EB-1 (India/China): Expected to advance significantly - fresh numbers, dates could jump 3-6 months
• EB-2 India: Expected to advance after the June retrogression to Sep 1, 2013. Prediction: advance 2-6 months as fresh FY2027 numbers absorb pent-up demand
• EB-2 China: Advance likely (2-4 months)
• EB-2 ROW: Remain Current
• EB-3 India: Expected to advance 1-3 months from Dec 15, 2013 - and possibly re-align with EB-2 India
• EB-3 ROW: May return to or near Current
• EB-5 Unreserved India: May RESET - retrogression from Sep may ease with fresh numbers, but demand carries over
• EB-5 Set-asides: Remain Current with fresh allocations

Latest data baseline:

Will Chart B reopen in October?

Chart B was used for employment-based filings through April 2026. USCIS switched to Chart A only in May - the first time in over six months - and the June, July, August, and September bulletins have continued Chart A only. October historically reopens Chart B with fresh numbers.

If Chart B reopens:

• EB-2 India: Filing date was Jan 2015 vs Final Action Sep 2013 = ~16-month window reopens for I-485 filing
• EB-3 India: Filing was Jan 2015 vs Final Action Dec 2013 = ~13-month window reopens
• EB-3 ROW: Filing was Current vs Final Action Jun 2024 = everyone can file again
• Chart B reopening in October would be the single most impactful change for backlogged applicants

FY2027 immigration landscape

What carries over from FY2026:

• 75-country visa freeze (no expiration announced)
• OBBBA fee increases (permanent, CPI-adjusted annually)
• Enhanced FBI background checks (ongoing)
• Social media screening (ongoing)
• Canada competition: Express Entry at 380K PR/year
• Germany: still 7 pathways, still recruiting

What is NEW in FY2027:

• Medicaid/CHIP revoked October 1, 2026 for most non-citizens
• ACA marketplace revoked January 1, 2027
• Potential Express Entry reforms (consultation closed May 24, 2026)

Background reading: OBBBA Immigration Impact, US Visa Freeze, Canada Express Entry Reform.

How to prepare for October

Timeline from May to September:

• NOW: file I-485 if your date is current under Chart A
• June-July: gather all documents (birth certificate, police clearance, medical)
• August: take medical exam (I-693, valid 2 years)
• September: monitor USCIS announcement on Chart A vs B
• October 1: if Chart B reopens, file I-485 IMMEDIATELY

The applicants who benefit most from October resets are those who prepared everything in advance.

EB-5 reset - opportunity in FY2027

• Fresh EB-5 allocations across all categories
• Set-asides protected (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure)
• If India retrogressed in Aug/Sep: may ease slightly in October
• New investors should target set-aside categories for no-backlog path

Alternative pathways - don't wait for October

• Canada Express Entry: PR in 6 months, no backlog, no per-country cap
• Germany Blue Card: 2-4 week processing, PR in 21 months
• Australia 189: direct PR, points-based

If your US green card wait is 10+ years, a 6-month Canadian PR is worth serious consideration. Tools: CRS Calculator, Eligibility Checker. Reading: Canada H-1B Pathway, Best Countries to Work Abroad, Germany Immigration Changes 2026.

Family-sponsored October predictions

Fresh numbers means most categories advance:

• F-2A: should remain Current
• F-1/F-2B: modest advances (1-3 months)
• F-3/F-4: slow but positive movement
• Chart B: expected to be available for family-sponsored

What to do right now

• Order birth certificate replacements if needed (4-6 week lead time)
• Schedule medical exam for late summer (I-693 valid 2 years)
• Request police clearances from every country lived in 6+ months since age 16
• Have legal review of I-485 packet ready by September 25
• Subscribe to USCIS announcements for Chart A/B confirmation

See USCIS Processing Times 2026 for current adjudication estimates by service center.

Historical tracker - complete FY2026 review

The FY2026 movement chart shows the year's defining patterns: a December 2025 surge, a multi-month freeze, and the May Chart A switch. October 2026 begins fresh. For deep backlog data: Green Card Backlog Report 2026.