October 2026 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For October 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-october-2026.aspx

Please see below analysis of October 2026 Visa Bulletin:

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	+8 Months 7 Days	+6 Months
F2A	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+7 Months	+1 Month
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Year 3 Months	+4 Months
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	+5 Months
F4	No Change	No Change	+1 Month 14 Days	+14 Days	+8 Months 24 Days

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+10 Months 7 Days	+1 Year
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Year 4 Months 17 Days	+2 Months 14 Days
F4	No Change	No Change	+1 Month 17 Days	No Change	+1 Year

October 2026 Visa Bulletin

For September 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-september-2026.aspx

For analysis of October 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-analysis-october-2026.aspx

October 2026 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from October 1 to October 31 only). Please see below for more details.

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	22JAN20	22JAN20	22JAN20	08SEP08	01NOV13
F2A	22SEP26	22SEP26	22SEP26	22MAR26	22SEP26
F2B	22AUG19	22AUG19	22AUG19	15MAY10	01OCT13
F3	22OCT14	22OCT14	22OCT14	01JUL01	22JUL06
F4	22OCT11	22OCT11	15DEC06	22APR01	15MAY08

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01FEB20	01FEB20	01FEB20	01DEC08	22APR15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01SEP19	01SEP19	01SEP19	22MAR11	01OCT14
F3	01NOV14	01NOV14	01NOV14	01DEC02	22OCT06
F4	01NOV11	01NOV11	01FEB07	30APR01	22MAR09

DHS Proposes Additional H-1B Fee

WASHINGTON— The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to establish a $103,265 fee for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The proposed fee would be paid at the time of filing and would be imposed in addition to all other applicable fees or payments.

The proposed fee would generate revenue to recover a portion of the federal government’s costs for administering the lawful immigration system. These costs include adjudication of immigration benefits, fraud detection and national security vetting, systems modernization, records and fee collection operations, immigration court operations, consular visa processing, labor standards enforcement, and interagency coordination. DHS estimates the proposed fee would generate approximately $8.8 billion annually, based on a projected annual volume of 85,000 H

USCIS to Publish New Edition of Form I-485; Older Editions Will Be Rejected Starting Sept. 18

On Sept. 18, 2026, USCIS will publish a revised edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (edition date: 09/18/26). The form has been revised to align with the recently announced Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule.

The 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 replaces the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-485.

USCIS is providing a preview version of the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 and its instructions because there is no grace period for accepting the revised edition of Form I-485. Do not file the 09/18/26 e

USCIS Issues Guidance on Making Public Charge Inadmissibility Determination

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual explaining how the agency will determine whether an alien applying for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident is likely at any time to become a public charge.

On July 16, 2026, DHS announced a final rule that rescinds the 2022 Biden-era public charge inadmissibility regulations. The final rule was formally published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2026, and goes into effect on Sept. 18, 2026. The updated guidance aligns with congressional intent that aliens in the United States be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits.

This up

Denaturalization Case Filed Against Man Who Procured U.S. Citizenship Under False Identity

WICHITA, Kan. — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided crucial support to an investigation resulting in charges to denaturalize a man born in India for using a false identity to become a U.S. citizen. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas made the announcement. 

Charges were filed in the District of Kansas to denaturalize Harinder Singh, a.k.a. Harinder Singh Sanghera a.k.a. Rushpal Singh of Olathe, Kansas, for unlawfully procuring U.S. citizenship. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the citizenship of a naturalized U.S. citizen may be revoked, and certificate of naturalization canceled, if the naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a

USCIS To Require Electronic Filing of Forms: Strengthening National Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is introducing an interim final rule (IFR) that allows U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to mandate electronic filing, or e-filing, for certain immigration forms.

Under this IFR, USCIS may require future filings of any immigration form that has been available for e-filing for at least 180 days to be submitted online. USCIS will notify the public on its website at least 60 days before requiring e-filing of a form. Filers must use an online account to submit an immigration form to USCIS, either by completing the form online or by uploading a PDF of the completed form and related evidence.

This initiative will eliminate reliance on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s physical lockbox services and accelerate the shift to electronic fee payments. The transition should deliver substantial cost savings and grea