The U.S. Department of State has published the October 2025 Visa Bulletin. This marks the beginning of the new fiscal year. The update includes new cut-off dates for family-based and employment-based green card categories. It also introduces the first allocation numbers for the Diversity Visa (DV) 2026 program.
Summary of Visa Availability for October 2025
The October bulletin provides the “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing” that govern when applicants can proceed with either National Visa Center documentation or adjustment-of-status filings through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The allocation reflects demand received through September 3, 2025. The Department of State notes that high application volumes continue to cause oversubscription across multiple categories.
Family-Sponsored Preferences: Modest Movement but Long Delays
The annual cap for family-sponsored green cards remains 226,000, with a per-country limit of 7% (approximately 25,620 visas). For October, most categories advance only slightly, with backlogs still stretching many years for oversubscribed countries.
- F1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens): Cut-off stands at November 8, 2016, for most regions, but Mexico is at November 22, 2005, and the Philippines at January 22, 2013.
- F2A (Spouses and children of permanent residents): The category is current for most applicants, with per-country limits applying to Mexico.
- F3 (Married adult children of U.S. citizens): Stays as of September 8, 2011, for most countries, but Mexico remains stalled at April 15, 2001.
“Dates for Filing” charts provide a wider window, with later cut-off dates than “Final Action.” However, overall issuance remains restricted by annual limits. The wait times continue to be exceptionally long for Mexico, India, and the Philippines.
Employment-Based Categories: Retrogressions Hold
The employment-based annual worldwide limit remains 140,000, with demand far outpacing supply in key categories. The October 2025 bulletin continues the retrogression patterns observed throughout late FY 2025.
- EB-1 (Priority Workers): Current for most countries. India is backlogged to February 15, 2022, and China to December 22, 2022.
- EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals): Final Action Dates stand at December 1, 2023, for most applicants. India remains severely backlogged to April 1, 2013, and China to April 1, 2021.
- EB-3 (Skilled Workers & Professionals): Final Action Date is April 1, 2023, for most regions, while India is back to August 22, 2013, and China to March 1, 2021.
Other categories, including EB-4 “Certain Special Immigrants,” remain backlogged, and the “Religious Workers” category has expired pending legislative reauthorization. EB-5 investor visas are current for most countries, except for China, which has a cut-off date of December 8, 2015, and India, which has a cut-off date of February 1, 2021.
Diversity Visa (DV-2026): First Allocation Released
The Diversity Visa program, which provides up to 55,000 green cards annually, is reduced to approximately 52,000 for FY 2026 after adjustments under NACARA and NDAA. October marks the first release of cut-off numbers for DV-2026 selectees.
Regional allocations include:
- Africa: 17,500 (Algeria capped at 14,500; Egypt at 16,000)
- Asia: 10,000 (Nepal limited to 6,000)
- Europe: 7,750
- Oceania: 1,100
- South America & Caribbean: 1,850
- North America (Bahamas): 20
The bulletin reminds applicants that eligibility expires on September 30, 2026, and visas cannot be issued after this date, even if numbers remain available.
Uncertainty Ahead
The Department of State warns that demand for both family and employment-based categories is expected to remain high throughout the fiscal year. Retrogressions in EB-2 and EB-3 are likely to continue, and backlogs in family categories show little sign of improvement.
The termination of the Religious Worker program may also impact the availability of EB-4 visas unless Congress extends the program. Diversity Visa selectees should act quickly, as the available numbers may run out before the end of FY 2026.
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