The October 2026 Visa Bulletin creates new filing opportunities for many employment-based green card applicants. Beginning October 1, 2026, USCIS will use the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based adjustment applications, allowing eligible applicants with sufficiently early priority dates to submit Form I-485.
Filing eligibility does not mean USCIS can immediately approve the green card. The priority date must generally become current under the Final Action Dates chart before approval. However, filing Form I-485 may allow applicants to request adjustment-based employment authorization and advance parole while the case remains pending.
Your priority date must be earlier than the applicable cutoff—not equal to it—and you must otherwise qualify to adjust status in the United States.
Key October 2026 Dates for Filing include:
| Category | Most Countries | China | India | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | July 1, 2024 | July 1, 2024 | Current |
| EB-2 | March 15, 2026 | January 1, 2023 | January 15, 2015 | March 15, 2026 |
| EB-3 | August 1, 2024 | April 1, 2024 | January 15, 2015 | January 1, 2024 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | June 1, 2022 | October 1, 2020 | January 15, 2015 | June 1, 2022 |
Mexico generally follows the “Most Countries” dates for these categories. Applicants should verify their category, priority date, and country of chargeability against the official bulletin before filing.
Exact requirements depend on the applicant’s immigration history and green card category. The following records should be collected early so an attorney can identify missing documents or inconsistencies before the filing window opens.
As of September 18, 2026, USCIS accepts only the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485. Earlier editions submitted on or after that date will be rejected.
Applicants should prepare:
A rejected application generally does not preserve the filing date. Downloading fresh forms from USCIS immediately before submission can help prevent an outdated-edition rejection.
Each applicant should collect:
If a birth certificate is unavailable, incomplete, or registered significantly after birth, additional evidence may be necessary. Addressing the issue before filing is safer than waiting for USCIS to request more documentation.
F-1 students and former students should not provide only their most recent school or employment documents. A complete record may include:
The dates across these documents should be consistent. Applicants with possible status gaps, unauthorized employment, or discrepancies between an I-94 and approval notice should obtain individualized legal advice before filing. Although INA Section 245(k) may protect certain employment-based applicants with limited violations, its application is fact-specific and should not be assumed.
Every derivative family member files a separate Form I-485 and needs separate supporting evidence.
Depending on the family member, the package may require:
Missing proof that a previous marriage legally ended can create avoidable delays.
Supplement J is generally required when an employment-based Form I-485 relies on a Form I-140 category that requires a permanent job offer and the I-140 is not being filed concurrently.
The form confirms that the sponsoring employer’s permanent position remains available. It is also used to request job portability when a qualifying Form I-485 has been pending for at least 180 days and the applicant has a new permanent job offer in the same or a similar occupational classification.
EB-1A extraordinary ability and EB-2 National Interest Waiver applicants generally do not need Supplement J because those categories do not require a specific employer’s job offer.
Applicants who are required to submit Form I-693 must generally include it with Form I-485 or risk rejection. The medical examination must be completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, and the applicant should not open or alter the sealed envelope.
Importantly, USCIS removed the former 60-day signature rule in March 2023. Applicants do not need to ensure that the civil surgeon signed Form I-693 within 60 days before the I-485 filing. Current policy generally limits the medical form’s validity to the immigration application with which it is submitted, so a new Form I-693 may be required if that application is denied or withdrawn.
The September 18, 2026 public charge final rule also resulted in revised Form I-485 questions concerning means-tested public benefits. Applicants should review their benefit history carefully because disclosure requirements may depend on the type of benefit and when it was received. Tax returns, pay statements, and financial records are not automatically required in every employment-based case solely because of the new rule; follow the current form instructions and case-specific advice.
The most important preparation step is consistency. Names, addresses, employment dates, status periods, travel history, and answers across all forms should match the supporting record. A filing window may remain open for only a limited period, so applicants should resolve missing records before October rather than after becoming eligible.