If you are following the EB-3 green card process, October 2026 brings several important updates. The new fiscal year has started, new visa numbers are available, and the Department of Labor and USCIS continue to work through their processing backlogs.
For EB-3 Other Workers applicants in particular, it is important to understand the difference between PERM processing, I-140 processing, and the Visa Bulletin. These are separate stages, and speeding up one stage does not automatically eliminate delays at another.
Here is what the EB-3 process looks like in October 2026.
PERM Processing Times (Department of Labor)
PERM labor certification is one of the major steps in an employer-sponsored EB-3 case. The employer generally needs to complete the required recruitment process and obtain a certified permanent labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor before moving forward with the I-140 petition.
As of September 22, 2026, the Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification was working on PERM applications with priority dates from December 2025 in both the Analyst Review and Audit Review queues. The reported average processing time for PERM applications in Analyst Review was 336 calendar days in August 2026.
That means PERM is currently taking roughly 10 to 11 months for cases in the standard processing queue, although individual cases can take longer depending on their circumstances.
It is important to remember that the Department of Labor’s posted processing date is not a guaranteed completion date. Cases can move at different speeds, and an audit or other issue can add additional time.
What Is a Priority Date?
Your priority date is an important date throughout the employment-based immigration process because it determines your place in the visa queue.
For many PERM-based employment cases, the priority date is established when the Department of Labor receives the PERM labor certification application. Once the PERM is approved and the employer files the I-140 petition, that priority date generally stays with the case.
The priority date becomes especially important once you reach the Visa Bulletin stage. You may have an approved I-140 but still need to wait until your priority date is earlier than the applicable Visa Bulletin cutoff date.
This is why completing PERM and I-140 does not necessarily mean that the green card is immediately available.
I-140 Processing Times (USCIS)
After the PERM labor certification is approved, the employer can generally file Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, with USCIS.
USCIS processing times vary according to the form, classification, workload, and processing operation handling the case. USCIS has also moved away from consistently displaying processing times according to individual service centers for some forms, instead using Service Center Operations in its online processing-time system.
For EB-3 applicants, premium processing may also be available for an eligible I-140. However, premium processing applies to the USCIS petition itself. It does not eliminate the Visa Bulletin backlog.
In other words, an applicant can receive an I-140 approval and still have to wait for a visa number to become available.
How to Read the Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Department of State publishes a Visa Bulletin every month showing when immigrant visa numbers are available in different family- and employment-based categories.
For EB-3 applicants, two charts are particularly important:
- Final Action Dates
- Dates for Filing
The two charts serve different purposes.
A date listed in the Visa Bulletin means that the category is subject to a cutoff. Generally, your priority date must be earlier than the published date for you to be eligible under that chart. A category marked “C” is current, meaning there is no cutoff date restricting visa availability for that category.
October 2026 is also the beginning of fiscal year 2027, which means a new annual allocation of employment-based immigrant visa numbers is available.
October 2026 Final Action Dates (Table A) for Consular Processing
For October 2026, the EB-3 Final Action Dates are:
| EB-3 Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals | May 15, 2024 | January 8, 2022 | January 1, 2014 | May 15, 2024 | August 15, 2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | January 1, 2022 | October 1, 2019 | January 1, 2014 | January 1, 2022 | January 1, 2022 |
These are the official October 2026 Final Action Dates published by the Department of State.
For EB-3 Other Workers, the January 1, 2022 cutoff is particularly important for applicants chargeable to countries in the general category, Mexico, and the Philippines.
For consular processing, the Final Action Date determines when an immigrant visa can actually be issued, assuming all other requirements have been satisfied.
October 2026 Dates for Filing (Table B) for Adjustment of Status
The October 2026 Dates for Filing chart provides different cutoff dates:
| EB-3 Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals | August 1, 2024 | April 1, 2024 | January 15, 2015 | August 1, 2024 | January 1, 2024 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | June 1, 2022 | October 1, 2020 | January 15, 2015 | June 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 |
For applicants inside the United States, however, the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart can only be used for adjustment of status when USCIS designates that chart for the month in question. The Visa Bulletin itself directs applicants to USCIS for that determination.
Therefore, applicants should always check the USCIS Visa Bulletin filing-chart announcement before filing Form I-485 based on the Dates for Filing chart.
What the October 2026 Visa Bulletin Means for EB-3 Other Workers
For EB-3 Other Workers, the October 2026 bulletin shows:
- Final Action Date: January 1, 2022 for the general category
- Dates for Filing: June 1, 2022 for the general category
This creates two different milestones.
The Dates for Filing date can allow an eligible applicant to begin certain parts of the final application process when USCIS permits use of that chart. The Final Action Date controls when the immigrant visa can actually be issued or the adjustment of status can be approved, subject to the applicable rules.
The difference between these two dates is why an applicant may be able to file before the green card itself can be approved.
The Department of State also warns that dates can move forward or backward depending on demand and visa availability. For fiscal year 2027, the Department specifically noted that some employment-based categories for countries in the general chargeability group have retrogressed and that the dates will continue to be monitored.
PERM Backlog Reduction Act
One proposed change that could affect the EB-3 timeline is the PERM Backlog Reduction Act of 2026.
H.R. 10051 was introduced in the House on August 6, 2026, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The bill would establish an optional expedited processing program for Form ETA-9089, the PERM labor certification application.
Under the introduced legislation, employers would pay a fee for expedited processing, with the proposed program requiring the Department of Labor to process qualifying ETA-9089 applications within 30 calendar days, subject to the conditions in the bill.
The proposal would also use fees to support the program and related processing, including prevailing wage determinations.
It is important to distinguish this proposal from an existing PERM premium-processing service. As of October 2026, the legislation has not become law, so employers cannot simply request PERM premium processing under this bill today.
The Dignity Act and Family Member Counting
Another proposal receiving attention from EB-3 applicants is the DIGNITY Act of 2025.
One provision discussed in connection with EB-3 Other Workers concerns how spouses and children are counted against employment-based immigrant visa limits. Under current law, employment-based immigrants and their qualifying dependents are counted within the applicable visa allocation.
The Dignity Act proposes changing that treatment so that spouses and minor children would not count against the employment-based numerical limits in the same way. The proposal is particularly relevant to EB-3 Other Workers because that category is subject to a statutory annual allocation of no more than 10,000 visas.
If enacted, such a change could alter how quickly visa numbers are used in the affected category. However, the Dignity Act is proposed legislation, not current law, and its provisions could change during the legislative process.
Applicants should therefore distinguish between changes that are already reflected in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin and proposed legislative changes that have not yet taken effect.
How to Support These Bills
Applicants who want to support immigration legislation can contact their elected representatives and explain how employment-based immigration backlogs affect them.
For the PERM Backlog Reduction Act, H.R. 10051 was introduced in the House and referred to the Judiciary Committee. Its progress can therefore be followed through the congressional legislative record.
For the Dignity Act, applicants can similarly contact members of Congress and communicate their personal experiences with employment-based immigration delays.
When contacting lawmakers, it can be useful to clearly identify the bill you are discussing, explain how the current system affects your situation, and ask for the specific legislative action you want them to consider.
October 2026 EB-3 Processing Timeline
The EB-3 process involves several separate stages:
- Employer recruitment and PERM preparation
- PERM labor certification processing with the Department of Labor
- I-140 petition processing with USCIS
- Waiting for the priority date to become eligible under the Visa Bulletin
- Consular processing or adjustment of status
- Final immigrant visa issuance or green card approval
The first three stages involve government processing times, while the Visa Bulletin stage is primarily determined by visa-number availability and demand.
That distinction matters when estimating an EB-3 timeline. Faster PERM processing does not automatically make the Visa Bulletin move faster, and premium processing for an eligible I-140 does not eliminate a priority-date backlog.
For October 2026, the Department of State has published the new fiscal-year Visa Bulletin, while the Department of Labor reports PERM cases in the December 2025 processing queue.
Because processing times and cutoff dates can change every month, EB-3 applicants should check the Department of Labor, USCIS, and Department of State updates regularly rather than relying on an older estimate.
How To Read the October 2026 EB-3 Visa Bulletin
- Find your EB-3 category. Check whether your case is classified as EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals or EB-3 Other Workers.
- Find your country of chargeability. Most applicants use the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column unless they are chargeable to a separately listed country.
- Check the Final Action Date. This date determines when a visa can be issued or an adjustment of status can be approved, assuming all other requirements are met.
- Check the Dates for Filing. This chart can indicate when applicants may be able to begin submitting their final applications, but adjustment-of-status applicants must also check whether USCIS has authorized use of this chart for October 2026.
- Compare the date with your priority date. Your priority date generally needs to be earlier than the applicable cutoff date.
- Check the bulletin every month. Visa Bulletin dates can move forward, remain unchanged, or retrogress depending on visa demand and availability.
October 2026 EB-3 FAQ
What is the EB-3 Visa Bulletin for October 2026?
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin provides the cutoff dates for employment-based immigrant visa categories, including EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals and EB-3 Other Workers.
What is the EB-3 Other Workers Final Action Date for October 2026?
For applicants in the general chargeability category, the EB-3 Other Workers Final Action Date is January 1, 2022, in October 2026.
What is the EB-3 Other Workers Dates for Filing date for October 2026?
For the general chargeability category, the EB-3 Other Workers Dates for Filing date is June 1, 2022, for October 2026.
Does an approved I-140 mean I can immediately get my green card?
No. An approved I-140 does not by itself mean that an immigrant visa number is immediately available. Your priority date must also be current under the applicable Visa Bulletin rules.
Can premium processing speed up my entire EB-3 case?
No. Premium processing, when available for an eligible I-140, speeds up USCIS processing of the I-140 petition. It does not speed up PERM processing or eliminate a Visa Bulletin backlog.
Can the October 2026 Visa Bulletin dates change?
Yes. Visa Bulletin cutoff dates can move forward, stay the same, or move backward depending on visa demand and availability. Applicants should check each month’s bulletin for the latest information.
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