Immigration Update |
October 2026 Visa Bulletin: Impact of Retrogression of Rest of World EB-2 and EB3 Final Action and Dates for Filing
The October Visa Bulletin retrogressed ROW EB-2 and EB-3 dates, likely because DOS increased availability during visa pauses, which affects those eligible to file adjustment of status applications in October.
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin, released yesterday, September 29, retrogresses the Rest of World (ROW) EB-2 and EB-3 Final Action and Dates for Filing dates at the start of the new fiscal year, which begins tomorrow.
The Department of State (DOS) has offered some interesting commentary. In the September Visa Bulletin, it said:
“Immigrant visa issuance rates for aliens from certain countries have decreased in light of various actions the administration has taken to protect national security and public safety, and to otherwise advance the interests of the United States (e.g. Presidential Proclamation 10949, Presidential Proclamation 10998, Immigrant Visa Processing Updates). Consequently, to make visas available…dates for filing and final action have been advanced across various immigrant visa categories in recent months. But as additional immigrant visa demand materializes, or administration actions are amended, retrogression may be necessary in the upcoming months to keep issuances within annual limits.”
We now know that administration actions were, indeed, “amended” in court, and pauses have been lifted. DOS told us it proactively increased visa availability during the months of the immigrant visa pauses, and it appears this caused the October retrogression. In the October Visa Bulletin, DOS acknowledged, “...some employment-based visa categories for ‘Rest of World’ countries have retrogressed, and these retrogressions are necessary to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits.”
Bottom line: It’s unusual to have a backlog in EB-2 ROW, especially in October. Anyone eligible to file adjustment of status applications in October should not delay filing.