October 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 moved back to 01 JAN 2025. What it means for NIW

The numbers

From the State Department's October 2026 Visa Bulletin:

The bulletin does not compare months. In the September 2026 bulletin, EB-2 for most countries was Current on both charts. The October bulletin states that some employment-based categories for "Rest of World" countries have retrogressed to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits, and that the situation is being continually monitored, with adjustments made as necessary.

What it changes for NIW

It does not change when an NIW petition can be filed. The I-140 can be filed at any time. The bulletin controls the last step: when a visa number is available.

The priority date decides which side of the cutoff a case falls on. For a self-filed NIW, the priority date is the day the I-140 is filed. A date earlier than the cutoff means a visa number is available. A later date means waiting until the cutoff moves.

For adjustment of status in the US, USCIS designated the Dates for Filing chart for October 2026 for all employment-based categories. That chart reads 15 MAR 2026 for EB-2 "all other countries", so someone with a priority date earlier than 15 MAR 2026 who is otherwise eligible can file the I-485 in October. The Final Action Date (01 JAN 2025) still controls when the green card can be approved. USCIS announces its chart choice every month and it can change.

For consular processing (outside the US), the Final Action Date applies.

India and China

The gap between categories is the point. For India, EB-1 stands at 01 FEB 2023 and EB-2 at 01 NOV 2013. That is why many applicants from India look at EB-1A as a second route when their evidence supports it. An earlier EB-2 or EB-3 priority date can generally be kept after an EB-1A approval, which matters for anyone who already has an approved petition.

What we do with this

We prepare NIW, EB-1A and O-1 petitions, and the category follows the evidence, not the bulletin. The bulletin moves monthly in either direction. Every date in this post is correct as of 19 October 2026; the November 2026 bulletin had not been published at that date. The free assessment shows which category fits a profile: app.porttus.ai/assessment

Sources

U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletins for October 2026 and September 2026 (travel.state.gov); USCIS, "Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin" (uscis.gov, page reviewed 1 Oct 2026).

Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific case.