EB-3 Priority Date Retreats in October 2026 Visa Bulletin as New Fiscal Year Begins

The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, marking the start of the new federal fiscal year (FY2027). While the annual quota reset traditionally brings renewed movement for heavily backlogged categories, the results are uneven across employment-based preference categories. For EB-3 applicants, October 2026 brings a setback: priority dates have retrogressed, meaning some applicants who were previously current are no longer eligible to file or receive their immigrant visas. This is a significant development for workers in the skilled, professional, and unskilled subcategories who have been waiting for years. Indian-born applicants in certain categories may see marginal relief due to the fresh allocation of annual visa numbers at the start of the fiscal year. However, the massive backlog for India-born EB-3 and EB-2 applicants means that meaningful forward movement remains years away for the majority. Applicants with pending I-485 adjustment of status applications or those approaching consular interviews should verify their priority date against the October 2026 Bulletin's Final Action Dates chart immediately. Those who become current under the Dates for Filing chart may still be able to submit adjustment applications even if their Final Action Date is not yet current. EB-3 stakeholders are advised to monitor USCIS and DOS announcements closely throughout FY2027, as priority date movement can shift month to month based on visa demand and usage patterns across all categories.