The October 2026 Visa Bulletin is the first bulletin of fiscal year 2027, and it sets the tone for the months ahead. For most applicants born in Turkey, who fall under the “All Chargeability Areas” column, the picture is mixed. Spouses and children of green card holders (F2A) moved forward by a month. Final action dates for EB-2 and EB-3 moved backward. And USCIS is letting every family and employment applicant use the more generous Dates for Filing chart this month.
This guide explains what changed between September and October 2026, what it means for the categories our Turkish clients use most (EB-2 NIW, EB-3, marriage and family cases), and what to watch for when the November 2026 bulletin is published. If you are new to priority dates, start with our guide to reading the Visa Bulletin.
October 2026 at a glance
- F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents): final action date advanced from August 22, 2026 to September 22, 2026. The Dates for Filing chart remains “Current.”
- EB-2 (including NIW), all chargeability: final action date retrogressed from “Current” to January 1, 2025.
- EB-3 professionals and skilled workers: final action date retrogressed from September 1, 2024 to May 15, 2024.
- EB-3 other workers: retrogressed from April 1, 2022 to January 1, 2022.
- EB-1 and EB-5 (unreserved and set-aside): remain “Current” for all chargeability countries.
- USCIS chart: for October 2026, adjustment of status applicants in all family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart.
Final action dates: September vs. October 2026 (All Chargeability, including Turkey)
| Category | September 2026 | October 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 – unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens | Jan 22, 2020 | Jan 22, 2020 | No change |
| F2A – spouses and children of permanent residents | Aug 22, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | +1 month |
| F2B – unmarried adult children of permanent residents | Aug 22, 2019 | Aug 22, 2019 | No change |
| F3 – married children of U.S. citizens | Oct 22, 2014 | Oct 22, 2014 | No change |
| F4 – siblings of U.S. citizens | Oct 22, 2011 | Oct 22, 2011 | No change |
| EB-1 | Current | Current | No change |
| EB-2 (incl. NIW) | Current | Jan 1, 2025 | Retrogressed |
| EB-3 professionals / skilled | Sep 1, 2024 | May 15, 2024 | Retrogressed |
| EB-3 other workers | Apr 1, 2022 | Jan 1, 2022 | Retrogressed |
| EB-4 | Dec 15, 2022 | Dec 15, 2022 | No change |
| EB-5 unreserved and set-asides | Current | Current | No change |
The State Department explained the employment-based retrogressions in the bulletin itself: they are “necessary to keep visa issuances within FY 2027 quarterly and annual limits,” and the situation will be monitored month to month. In plain terms, demand from applicants with older priority dates is high enough that the agency is slowing down the start of the year to avoid running out of numbers before September 2027.
Dates for Filing: October 2026 (All Chargeability)
Because USCIS has told applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart in October, these are the dates that decide whether you can file a green card application (Form I-485) inside the United States this month:
| Category | Dates for Filing (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| F1 | Feb 1, 2020 |
| F2A | Current |
| F2B | Sep 1, 2019 |
| F3 | Nov 1, 2014 |
| F4 | Nov 1, 2011 |
| EB-1 | Current |
| EB-2 (incl. NIW) | Mar 15, 2026 |
| EB-3 professionals / skilled | Aug 1, 2024 |
| EB-3 other workers | Jun 1, 2022 |
| EB-4 | Jan 1, 2025 |
| EB-5 unreserved and set-asides | Current |
Filing is not the same as approval. A Dates for Filing date lets you submit the I-485 and, with it, apply for a work permit and travel document. USCIS can only approve the green card once your priority date is earlier than the final action date in the month of approval.
What this means for Turkish applicants
EB-2 NIW applicants
The National Interest Waiver is one of the most common routes for Turkish engineers, doctors, academics and founders. October is a mixed month for this group:
- Priority date before January 1, 2025: your category is “current” for final action. If your I-140 is approved and you are in the U.S., your I-485 can be approved.
- Priority date between January 1, 2025 and March 14, 2026: you can file the I-485 in October using the Dates for Filing chart, but approval waits until the final action date passes your priority date.
- Priority date on or after March 15, 2026: you cannot file the I-485 this month and must wait for the chart to move.
If you are eligible to file this month, filing early still has value: the pending I-485 lets you apply for an EAD and advance parole, and it protects certain children under the Child Status Protection Act. One caution: EAD renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025, including the (c)(9) category for pending adjustment applicants, no longer receive an automatic extension, and DHS finalized that rule on October 14, 2026. Renew your work permit well before it expires.
EB-3 applicants
EB-3 professionals and skilled workers need a priority date before May 15, 2024 for final action and before August 1, 2024 to file. The “other workers” subcategory sits at January 1, 2022 (final action) and June 1, 2022 (filing).
Spouses and children of green card holders (F2A)
F2A remains one of the fastest family categories. The final action date of September 22, 2026 means most recently filed petitions are close to current, and the Dates for Filing chart is “Current.” A spouse who is already in the U.S. in valid status may be able to file an I-485 now. Unlike spouses of U.S. citizens, F2A beneficiaries must generally have maintained lawful status to adjust inside the country, so check your status history before filing.
Not sure which chart applies to you? Our team reviews your priority date, category and status history and tells you whether you can file this month. Book a free case evaluation with Yellow Law Group.
Siblings and married children (F3 and F4)
F3 (October 22, 2014) and F4 (October 22, 2011) did not move for All Chargeability in October. These categories advance slowly, often only a few weeks a year. Keep your National Visa Center file up to date so you are ready when the date reaches you.
Other October developments to note
- Religious workers (SR): H.R. 6500, signed September 2, 2026, extends the EB-4 non-minister religious worker category through December 11, 2026.
- China and India: China moved ahead in several categories (EB-2 China to October 1, 2021). India's EB-2 returned from “unavailable” to November 1, 2013, and India's EB-1 advanced to February 1, 2023. These do not affect applicants born in Turkey, but they show the overall demand picture.
- Diversity Visa 2027: on October 14, 2026, a federal court in California ordered the State Department to reopen DV-2027 registration. See our DV-2027 update for the timeline.
What to watch in the November 2026 Visa Bulletin
As of October 18, 2026, the November bulletin had not been published. The State Department does not pre-announce release dates; bulletins usually appear in the middle of the preceding month, and USCIS posts its chart choice within about a week. When it arrives, these are the questions that matter most for Turkish applicants:
- Does EB-2 Rest of World hold at January 1, 2025, or move? Early fiscal-year retrogressions sometimes ease once demand is measured, but the State Department has given no forward guidance.
- Does EB-3 hold at May 15, 2024?
- Which chart will USCIS honor in November? USCIS can switch from Dates for Filing back to Final Action Dates from one month to the next. If you are eligible to file under the October Dates for Filing chart, file in October rather than waiting.
- Does F2A keep advancing? A fast-moving F2A date can also retrogress suddenly if demand catches up.
Any number you see online for November before the official release is a forecast, not a government date. We will cover the November bulletin once it is officially released.
How to check your own position in three steps
- Find your priority date on your I-797 approval notice for the I-130 or I-140 (or the PERM filing date for labor-certification cases).
- Identify your chargeability. Chargeability usually follows the country of birth, not citizenship. Applicants born in Turkey use “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.” A spouse born elsewhere can sometimes be charged to the other spouse's country.
- Compare against the right chart. Use the chart USCIS designates for the month to decide whether to file, and the final action chart to know when approval is possible. Consular applicants follow the State Department's instructions from the National Visa Center.
When to talk to a lawyer
- Your priority date became eligible to file under the October Dates for Filing chart and you are not sure whether to file now.
- Your category retrogressed after you filed, and your EAD or travel document is close to expiring.
- You have a child close to turning 21 and need a Child Status Protection Act calculation.
- You are choosing between adjustment of status in the U.S. and consular processing in Ankara.
- You have had a gap in status and are in a preference category that requires continuous lawful status.
Talk to Yellow Law Group. We file family and employment-based green card cases in English and Turkish, including EB-2 NIW, EB-3 and family reunification petitions. Book a free case evaluation.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for October 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for September 2026
- USCIS, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
- DHS, Removal of Automatic Extensions for Certain Employment Authorization Documents, 91 FR 65306 (October 14, 2026)
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reflects the October 2026 Visa Bulletin as published.
