Last verified: August 31, 2026. Applies to the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, effective October 1, 2026.
A new US government fiscal year begins on October 1, 2026. For Indian nationals in the employment-based green card backlog — EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 — the FY2027 Visa Bulletin is one of the two most important documents of the year. Fresh visa allocation begins, priority dates can move, and applicants whose dates become "current" get a narrow window to file adjustment-of-status packets that could be stuck for years otherwise.
Here is what to have ready before the October 2026 bulletin publishes.
What the Fiscal-Year Reset Means for India
Each fiscal year, the State Department allocates a fixed number of employment-based green cards. India — the most-backlogged country — receives roughly 7% of the per-preference allocation, plus unused numbers from other countries that fall to the "otherwise unused" pool.
At fiscal-year start (October 1), the State Department can afford to be more generous with priority-date advancement because full allocation is still available. Historically:
- EB-1 India — retrogression risk at fiscal year end; may advance modestly Oct 1.
- EB-2 India — historically the most volatile category; sometimes advances significantly in October, sometimes stays "Unavailable."
- EB-3 India — deeply backlogged; forward movement typically slow but October start sometimes brings 1-3 month advancement.
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin showed EB-2 India as "Unavailable" — no forward movement, no I-485 processing. October may or may not reverse this. Prepare for both scenarios.
The Two Dates: Final Action vs Dates for Filing
The Visa Bulletin publishes two priority-date charts:
- Final Action Dates: when your I-485 can actually be approved. This is the "when does my green card issue" date.
- Dates for Filing: when USCIS accepts I-485 filings (varies month by month; USCIS decides which chart to use).
USCIS announces monthly which chart applies for the coming month. For India, the Dates for Filing chart is typically the one that lets applicants file — because Final Action Dates are so far back that no one would qualify.
File-Ready Checklist for the October 2026 Bulletin
If you have an approved I-140
Your priority date is set. When it becomes current under either chart (that USCIS uses), you can file I-485. Get the packet ready now.
Packet contents
- Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) — signed, dated, with correct fee.
- I-693 Medical Examination — sealed envelope from a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. Valid for 2 years from signature; get it done ONLY when your date is current or clearly about to become current.
- Approved I-140 receipt notice (or copy).
- Employment verification letter from your current employer.
- Passport-style photos (2 recent, per specs).
- Birth certificate (with certified English translation if applicable).
- Marriage certificate if applicable, with translation.
- Passport biographical page and I-94 records.
- Previous immigration approvals (H-1B, F-1, etc.).
- Tax returns for the last 2-3 years.
- Form G-325A if requested.
Concurrent filings to submit with I-485
- I-765 (EAD): allows you to work while I-485 is pending. Critical because H-1B extensions can be limited during I-485 processing.
- I-131 (Advance Parole): allows international travel while I-485 is pending. Without it, leaving the US is treated as abandoning the I-485.
File I-765 and I-131 concurrently with I-485. Combined EAD/AP renewal cards typically issue in 90-180 days.
Timing tricks
- Do NOT get the I-693 medical too early — it expires. Wait until your date is clearly about to become current.
- Filing on the first day of the month the chart advances is generally safe. USCIS uses the chart in effect at the filing date.
- If you file on the last day of a month and the chart changes the next day, your filing may still be accepted under the prior month's chart — but there's ambiguity.
What to Do if Your Date Is NOT Current
If your priority date remains behind the chart in the October 2026 bulletin, you are still waiting. What to do:
- Keep EAD and AP current if you've already filed I-485. Renew both well before expiry.
- Do not travel internationally without valid AP — treated as abandonment.
- Maintain your H-1B extension — post-6-year extensions are available for I-140 approved and priority date not current under AC21 §106(a).
- Consider EB-1A or NIW self-petition if your credentials qualify — can leapfrog the EB-2 queue.
- Monitor monthly bulletins — the Visa Bulletin publishes around the 15th of the preceding month.
What About Retrogression Risk?
The State Department warned in September 2026 of possible retrogression across EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5. Retrogression means priority dates move BACKWARD — you may be current one month and stuck the next. If your date becomes current in the October bulletin:
- File I-485 immediately if your packet is ready. Same-week filing is not unusual.
- Even if the date retrogresses in November, an already-filed I-485 is preserved.
- You continue to receive EAD/AP renewals even if the priority date retrogresses.
Timeline Snapshot
- Mid-September 2026: October Visa Bulletin publishes.
- Late September 2026: USCIS announces which chart (Dates for Filing vs Final Action) it will use for October filings.
- October 1, 2026: FY2027 begins. New allocation available. First-of-month filings can be made under the current chart.
- Mid-November 2026: November Visa Bulletin publishes — watch for continued advancement or retrogression.
Companion Reading
- US NRI Visa & Immigration Hub 2026
- H-1B Rules & USA Tech Layoffs: Late August 2026 Update for NRIs
- H-1B Visa New Rules 2026: EB-2 Green Card Backlogs — with September 2026 Visa Bulletin update
This is a procedural guide as of August 31, 2026 and not legal advice. Visa Bulletin dates change monthly; verify with the current State Department publication and consult an immigration attorney before making irreversible decisions.