October 2026 is receiving significant attention from EB-3 applicants because it marks the beginning of a new U.S. fiscal year. As of September 24, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has not yet released the October 2026 Visa Bulletin. Therefore, it is not yet possible to determine whether the EB-3 Final Action Date will advance, remain unchanged, or be adjusted in October.
However, for applicants whose Priority Dates are approaching the current cut-off dates, this is a good time to review their case progress and prepare for the next steps rather than waiting until the Visa Bulletin changes before beginning to understand what comes next.
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin Is Closely Watched Because It Begins a New Fiscal Year
The U.S. government’s fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the following year. Employment-based immigrant visas are allocated by fiscal year and divided among different preference categories.
Therefore, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin will be the first Visa Bulletin of fiscal year 2027.
The beginning of a new fiscal year is an important development for people waiting for employment-based immigrant visas. However, this does not mean that EB-3 Priority Dates are guaranteed to advance in October.
Visa Bulletin cut-off dates may change depending on visa usage, demand, and the number of visas available for allocation.
Therefore, before the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is officially released, any estimate of how far EB-3 may advance should be treated only as a prediction.
Where Does EB-3 Stand in September 2026?
While waiting for the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, EB-3 applicants can review the cut-off dates currently applicable for September.
For “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed,” which includes Vietnam, the September 2026 Final Action Dates are:
EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: September 1, 2024
EB-3 Other Workers: April 1, 2022
Under Dates for Filing:
EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: Current
EB-3 Other Workers: August 1, 2022
An applicant’s Priority Date should be compared with the corresponding date in the Visa Bulletin to determine the status of the individual case.
These dates also provide a reference point for EB-3 applicants to understand where their cases currently stand before the October bulletin is released.
The Closer Your Priority Date Is to the Cut-Off, the More Closely You Should Monitor It
One of the most important pieces of information when monitoring the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is the Priority Date.
The Priority Date can be understood as the date that establishes a case’s place in the immigrant visa queue. For employment-based cases requiring Labor Certification, the Priority Date is generally associated with the date the Department of Labor receives the Labor Certification application for processing.
If the Priority Date is still far from the Final Action Date, the applicant will generally need to continue waiting.
On the other hand, if the Priority Date is approaching the current cut-off date, monitoring the Visa Bulletin each month becomes increasingly important. A change in the cut-off date may affect the next stage of the case.
Therefore, instead of asking only, “How far did the Visa Bulletin advance this month?”, EB-3 applicants should compare their own Priority Date with the corresponding cut-off date to better understand their case status.
Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Are Not the Same
When the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is released, applicants should continue to distinguish between two important charts: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing.
The Final Action Date relates to when a visa may be issued to an otherwise eligible applicant when a visa number is available.
Dates for Filing indicate when certain applicants may begin submitting required documentation earlier in the process.
For immigrant visa cases processed through a U.S. consulate, applicants whose Priority Dates are earlier than the date listed under Dates for Filing may be asked to prepare and submit the required documents to the National Visa Center according to NVC instructions.
Therefore, the fact that EB-3 Skilled/Professional is listed as Current under the September Dates for Filing chart does not mean that all EB-3 applicants can immediately receive a visa.
This is also why applicants need to identify the correct chart and the correct EB-3 category when reading the Visa Bulletin.
What Should EB-3 Applicants From Vietnam Prepare?
For most people pursuing EB-3 from Vietnam, the primary process will involve immigrant visa processing through the NVC and a consular interview rather than Adjustment of Status in the United States.
While waiting for the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, applicants should first confirm their Priority Date, determine whether their case falls under EB-3 Skilled/Professional or Other Workers, and identify the current stage of their case.
If the case has already been transferred to the NVC, applicants should also make sure that their civil documents, passports, and other required documents remain complete, accurate, and consistent with their current circumstances.
In particular, changes involving marital status, children, passports, or personal information should be reviewed and updated in accordance with the applicable case requirements.
The goal is not to rush preparations based on a prediction that the Visa Bulletin will advance, but rather to avoid additional delays if the Priority Date becomes current while required information or documents are still missing.
Applicants in the United States Should Also Pay Attention to I-485 Filing Rules
For applicants who are already in the United States and eligible for Adjustment of Status, using the Visa Bulletin involves an additional important step.
Each month, USCIS determines whether applicants filing Form I-485 must use the Final Action Dates chart or the Dates for Filing chart to determine whether they are eligible to file.
Therefore, applicants should not assume that they can file Form I-485 simply because Dates for Filing shows Current.
When the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is released, these applicants should check both the Department of State Visa Bulletin and the USCIS Filing Charts for the corresponding month.
This differs from Consular Processing for applicants in Vietnam and should be clearly distinguished to avoid applying the wrong information.
Do Not Assume That the Visa Bulletin Will Definitely Advance
Because October marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, many applicants expect changes in EB-3. However, as of September 24, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has still not released the October 2026 Visa Bulletin.
Therefore, statements such as “EB-3 will definitely advance,” “Other Workers will advance by a certain number of months,” or claims of a specific future cut-off date are not yet official information.
A more appropriate approach is to monitor official sources and compare the new cut-off dates with each applicant’s Priority Date as soon as the new Visa Bulletin is released.
TGA Tracks EB-3 Case Progress at Each Stage
For an EB-3 case, the Visa Bulletin is only one part of the overall process. Earlier stages include Labor Certification and I-140, followed by the NVC, immigrant visa processing, and the consular interview for applicants completing Consular Processing.
TGA works directly with U.S. employers and monitors cases at each stage of the process.
Once the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is officially released, the new dates should be compared with each applicant’s specific Priority Date and EB-3 category rather than applying one general cut-off date to every case.
Conclusion
As of September 24, 2026, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin has not yet been released by the U.S. Department of State. October also marks the beginning of fiscal year 2027, but this does not guarantee that the EB-3 Final Action Date will advance.
While waiting for the new bulletin, EB-3 applicants should know their exact Priority Date, EB-3 category, current case stage, and prepare the necessary documents.
When the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is released, the important question is not only whether the cut-off dates have advanced or retrogressed, but also how the new dates compare with your own case.
