October 2026 Visa Bulletin Alert: EB-3 Priority Date Regression as FY2027 Begins

The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, ushering in Fiscal Year 2027 with notable shifts in employment-based immigration. According to analysis from Ogletree, the new fiscal year brings both advancement and retrogression across different preference categories, reflecting the annual reset of immigrant visa allocations. For EB-3 applicants — covering skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers — the October 2026 bulletin signals a retrogression in priority dates. This means some applicants whose priority dates were previously current may no longer be eligible to file for adjustment of status or proceed with their immigrant visa interviews, requiring them to wait for dates to advance again in subsequent months. The start of a new fiscal year (October 1) typically brings a fresh supply of approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas. However, heavy demand in certain categories and country-of-chargeability backlogs — particularly for nationals of India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines — can cause dates to move unpredictably, including backwards when USCIS and the State Department adjust for anticipated demand. EB-3 applicants are advised to check both the 'Dates for Filing' and 'Final Action Dates' charts in the October 2026 bulletin carefully, as USCIS determines each month which chart governs eligibility. Consulting with an immigration attorney before scheduling any interviews or submitting adjustment of status applications is strongly recommended given the current retrogression. Applicants should monitor the November 2026 Visa Bulletin for any corrections to the trajectory, as early FY2027 months often see adjustments as actual demand data becomes clearer to the State Department.