October is a month closely watched by many people with pending U.S. immigration cases because it marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for the U.S. government. For EB-3 applicants waiting for their Priority Date to become current, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is therefore receiving even greater attention.
As of September 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has not yet released the October Visa Bulletin. The official Visa Bulletin page still lists September 2026 as the current bulletin, while the Upcoming Visa Bulletin section shows “Coming Soon.”
This means it is not yet possible to confirm whether EB-3 will advance, remain unchanged, or retrogress in October. While waiting for the new bulletin, EB-3 applicants should check their Priority Date and prepare for the next steps rather than relying on unconfirmed predictions.
Why Is the October 2026 Visa Bulletin Receiving So Much Attention?
The U.S. government’s fiscal year begins on October 1. This also marks the beginning of a new annual cycle for the allocation of immigrant visas.
According to the September Visa Bulletin, the U.S. Department of State determined that the worldwide employment-based immigrant visa limit for fiscal year 2026 was 186,317 visas. EB-3 is allocated 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based limit, plus any visas not required by EB-1 and EB-2, if available.
For this reason, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is receiving particular attention as it marks the beginning of fiscal year 2027.
However, the start of a new fiscal year does not necessarily mean that EB-3 Priority Dates will advance significantly. Visa Bulletin movements still depend on the number of visas available for allocation, actual demand, the number of pending cases, and statutory limits.
Where Does EB-3 Stand Before October?
Before waiting for the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, it is useful to review the September cut-off dates for “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed,” which includes Vietnam.
In the Final Action Dates chart, EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals have a cut-off date of September 1, 2024. For EB-3 Other Workers, the current cut-off date is April 1, 2022.
In the Dates for Filing chart, EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals are Current (C), while the date for Other Workers is August 1, 2022.
These dates remained unchanged from August 2026 for both EB-3 categories.
These are the official figures for September and should not be interpreted as a forecast for October.
Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Are Not the Same
When the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is released, applicants should distinguish between two important charts.
Final Action Dates indicate the Priority Date cut-off at which visas may be issued to otherwise eligible applicants. For a category that is subject to a cut-off date, an applicant’s Priority Date must be earlier than the date published in the chart.
Dates for Filing relate to when applicants with qualifying Priority Dates may begin assembling and submitting documents under the applicable process.
For applicants in the United States pursuing Adjustment of Status, USCIS also determines which chart may be used for filing Form I-485 each month. Therefore, the appearance of “Current” in the Dates for Filing chart does not automatically mean that every applicant can immediately file Form I-485.
What Should Applicants With Priority Dates Near the Cut-Off Prepare?
While waiting for the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, applicants should first confirm their exact Priority Date and EB-3 category.
EB-3 Skilled/Professional and EB-3 Other Workers have different cut-off dates. Therefore, the date for Skilled Workers cannot be used to evaluate an Other Workers case, and vice versa.
If an applicant’s Priority Date is approaching the current cut-off date, it may be useful to review the status of the case, personal information, and documents that may be required for the next stage.
For applicants completing Consular Processing outside the United States, once the case becomes eligible to proceed, the National Visa Center will process the necessary documents and procedures before the consular interview stage.
For those eligible for Adjustment of Status in the United States, the process and required documents will be different. Applicants should therefore determine which process applies to their specific case rather than following one general set of instructions for all EB-3 cases.
Should We Expect EB-3 to Advance in October?
The beginning of a new fiscal year may lead many applicants to expect the October 2026 Visa Bulletin to show significant advancement. However, there is currently no official data confirming that this will happen.
In the September Visa Bulletin, the Department of State explained that adjustments to cut-off dates depend on visa demand and the need to keep visa issuance within annual numerical limits. The Department also noted that retrogression could occur if necessary.
Therefore, rather than predicting how many months the cut-off dates might advance, EB-3 applicants should focus on the gap between their own Priority Date and the officially published cut-off date.
Do Not Wait Until the Dates Advance to Start Preparing
When waiting for the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the important question is not only whether EB-3 will advance, but also what stage your case is currently in.
If your Priority Date is still well behind the current cut-off date, you can continue monitoring the Visa Bulletin each month. If your Priority Date is approaching the current cut-off, reviewing your case and preparing documents in advance can help you be better prepared when the dates change.
In particular, applicants should not assume that having a current Priority Date means a visa is guaranteed. The Visa Bulletin is only one part of the process; each case must still satisfy the applicable legal and procedural requirements.
Wait for the Official Announcement From the U.S. Department of State
At present, the Final Action Date for EB-3 Skilled/Professional applicants from Vietnam is September 1, 2024, while the date for EB-3 Other Workers is April 1, 2022. These are two important dates to watch while waiting for the October 2026 Visa Bulletin.
October marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, but that does not guarantee that EB-3 will immediately advance. The exact movement can only be determined once the U.S. Department of State officially releases the Visa Bulletin.
TGA will continue to monitor and provide updates on the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, including a direct comparison with September to help applicants clearly identify changes affecting EB-3 Skilled and EB-3 Other Workers.
