October 2026 bulletin published 29 Sep 2026
EB-2 China priority date, October 2026
In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-2 China Final Action date is 1 Oct 2021 and the Dates for Filing date is 1 Jan 2023. EB-2: advanced degree or exceptional ability, including National Interest Waiver (NIW) cases.
Check your priority date
Chart A · Final Action Dates
| # | Category | ChinaOctober 2026 | ChinaSeptember 2026 | Change since last month | Rest of worldOctober 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EB-2 advanced degree or exceptional ability, including National Interest Waiver (NIW) cases. | 1 Oct 2021 | 1 Sep 2021 | 30 days | 1 Jan 2025 |
Chart B · Dates for Filing
| # | Category | ChinaOctober 2026 | ChinaSeptember 2026 | Change since last month | Rest of worldOctober 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EB-2 advanced degree or exceptional ability, including National Interest Waiver (NIW) cases. | 1 Jan 2023 | 1 Jan 2022 | 365 days | 15 Mar 2026 |
EB-2 China: How the dates moved since 2015
Each line shows the cutoff by bulletin month. Higher means a later priority date qualifies. "Current" months sit on the top line; "Unavailable" months leave a gap.
The Final Action Dates cutoff moved forward 183 days since October 2025, about 15 days per bulletin on average. Past movement does not predict future movement.
The Dates for Filing cutoff moved forward 396 days since October 2025, about 33 days per bulletin on average. Past movement does not predict future movement.
Show every month
| Bulletin | Final Action | Dates for Filing |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1 Oct 2021 | 1 Jan 2023 |
| September 2026 | 1 Sep 2021 | 1 Jan 2022 |
| August 2026 | 1 Sep 2021 | 1 Jan 2022 |
| July 2026 | 1 Sep 2021 | 1 Jan 2022 |
| June 2026 | 1 Sep 2021 | 1 Jan 2022 |
| May 2026 | 1 Sep 2021 | 1 Jan 2022 |
| April 2026 | 1 Sep 2021 | 1 Jan 2022 |
| March 2026 | 1 Sep 2021 | 1 Jan 2022 |
| February 2026 | 1 Sep 2021 | 1 Jan 2022 |
| January 2026 | 1 Sep 2021 | 1 Jan 2022 |
| December 2025 | 1 Jun 2021 | 1 Dec 2021 |
| November 2025 | 1 Apr 2021 | 1 Dec 2021 |
| October 2025 | 1 Apr 2021 | 1 Dec 2021 |
| September 2025 | 15 Dec 2020 | 1 Jan 2021 |
| August 2025 | 15 Dec 2020 | 1 Jan 2021 |
| July 2025 | 15 Dec 2020 | 1 Jan 2021 |
| June 2025 | 1 Dec 2020 | 1 Jan 2021 |
| May 2025 | 1 Oct 2020 | 1 Nov 2020 |
| April 2025 | 1 Oct 2020 | 1 Nov 2020 |
| March 2025 | 8 May 2020 | 1 Oct 2020 |
| February 2025 | 22 Apr 2020 | 1 Oct 2020 |
| January 2025 | 22 Apr 2020 | 1 Oct 2020 |
| December 2024 | 22 Mar 2020 | 1 Oct 2020 |
| November 2024 | 22 Mar 2020 | 1 Oct 2020 |
| October 2024 | 22 Mar 2020 | 1 Oct 2020 |
| September 2024 | 1 Mar 2020 | 1 Jun 2020 |
| August 2024 | 1 Mar 2020 | 1 Jun 2020 |
| July 2024 | 1 Mar 2020 | 1 Jun 2020 |
| June 2024 | 1 Feb 2020 | 1 Jun 2020 |
| May 2024 | 1 Feb 2020 | 1 Jun 2020 |
| April 2024 | 1 Feb 2020 | 1 Jun 2020 |
| March 2024 | 1 Jan 2020 | 1 Jun 2020 |
| February 2024 | 1 Jan 2020 | 1 Jun 2020 |
| January 2024 | 1 Jan 2020 | 1 Jun 2020 |
| December 2023 | 22 Oct 2019 | 1 Jan 2020 |
| November 2023 | 1 Oct 2019 | 1 Jan 2020 |
| October 2023 | 1 Oct 2019 | 1 Jan 2020 |
| September 2023 | 8 Jul 2019 | 8 Oct 2019 |
| August 2023 | 8 Jul 2019 | 8 Oct 2019 |
| July 2023 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| June 2023 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| May 2023 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| April 2023 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| March 2023 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| February 2023 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| January 2023 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| December 2022 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| November 2022 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| October 2022 | 8 Jun 2019 | 8 Jul 2019 |
| September 2022 | 1 Apr 2019 | 1 May 2019 |
| August 2022 | 1 Apr 2019 | 1 May 2019 |
| July 2022 | 1 Apr 2019 | 1 May 2019 |
| June 2022 | 1 Mar 2019 | 1 Apr 2019 |
| May 2022 | 1 Mar 2019 | 1 Apr 2019 |
| April 2022 | 1 Mar 2019 | 1 Apr 2019 |
| March 2022 | 1 Mar 2019 | 1 Apr 2019 |
| February 2022 | 1 Mar 2019 | 1 Apr 2019 |
| January 2022 | 22 Jan 2019 | 1 Apr 2019 |
| December 2021 | 1 Jan 2019 | 1 Apr 2019 |
| November 2021 | 15 Nov 2018 | 1 Feb 2019 |
| October 2021 | 1 Jul 2018 | 1 Sep 2018 |
| September 2021 | 1 Jul 2018 | 1 Sep 2018 |
| August 2021 | 1 Apr 2018 | 1 Jul 2018 |
| July 2021 | 1 Dec 2017 | 1 Jul 2018 |
| June 2021 | 1 May 2017 | 1 Jan 2018 |
| May 2021 | 1 Dec 2016 | 1 Jul 2017 |
| April 2021 | 1 Sep 2016 | 1 Jan 2017 |
| March 2021 | 15 Jul 2016 | 1 Oct 2016 |
| February 2021 | 15 Jun 2016 | 1 Oct 2016 |
| January 2021 | 1 Jun 2016 | 1 Oct 2016 |
| December 2020 | 1 May 2016 | 1 Oct 2016 |
| November 2020 | 22 Apr 2016 | 1 Oct 2016 |
| October 2020 | 1 Mar 2016 | 1 Oct 2016 |
| September 2020 | 15 Jan 2016 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| August 2020 | 15 Jan 2016 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| July 2020 | 8 Nov 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| June 2020 | 1 Nov 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| May 2020 | 1 Oct 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| April 2020 | 1 Sep 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| March 2020 | 15 Aug 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| February 2020 | 15 Jul 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| January 2020 | 1 Jul 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| December 2019 | 22 Jun 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| November 2019 | 15 Mar 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| October 2019 | 1 Jan 2015 | 1 Aug 2016 |
| September 2019 | 1 Jan 2017 | 1 Jun 2017 |
| August 2019 | 1 Jan 2017 | 1 Feb 2017 |
| July 2019 | 1 Nov 2016 | 1 Feb 2017 |
| June 2019 | 1 Aug 2016 | 1 Nov 2016 |
| May 2019 | 15 May 2016 | 1 Sep 2016 |
| April 2019 | 1 Apr 2016 | 1 Jul 2016 |
| March 2019 | 1 Jan 2016 | 1 May 2016 |
| February 2019 | 1 Oct 2015 | 1 Nov 2015 |
| January 2019 | 1 Aug 2015 | 8 Sep 2015 |
| December 2018 | 1 Jul 2015 | 8 Sep 2015 |
| November 2018 | 15 May 2015 | 15 Jun 2015 |
| October 2018 | 1 Apr 2015 | 15 Jun 2015 |
| September 2018 | 1 Jan 2013 | 1 Apr 2015 |
| August 2018 | 1 Mar 2015 | 1 Apr 2015 |
| July 2018 | 1 Jan 2015 | 1 Apr 2015 |
| June 2018 | 1 Sep 2014 | 1 Feb 2015 |
| May 2018 | 1 Sep 2014 | 1 Feb 2015 |
| April 2018 | 1 Aug 2014 | 1 Feb 2015 |
| March 2018 | 8 Dec 2013 | 1 Feb 2015 |
| February 2018 | 1 Oct 2013 | 15 Nov 2014 |
| January 2018 | 8 Aug 2013 | 15 Nov 2013 |
| December 2017 | 1 Jul 2013 | 15 Nov 2013 |
| November 2017 | 15 Jun 2013 | 15 Nov 2013 |
| October 2017 | 22 May 2013 | 15 Nov 2013 |
| September 2017 | 15 May 2013 | 1 Oct 2013 |
| August 2017 | 22 Apr 2013 | 1 Oct 2013 |
| July 2017 | 22 Mar 2013 | 1 Oct 2013 |
| June 2017 | 1 Mar 2013 | 1 Oct 2013 |
| May 2017 | 8 Feb 2013 | 1 Oct 2013 |
| April 2017 | 15 Jan 2013 | 1 Mar 2013 |
| March 2017 | 15 Dec 2012 | 1 Mar 2013 |
| February 2017 | 15 Nov 2012 | 1 Mar 2013 |
| January 2017 | 15 Oct 2012 | 1 Mar 2013 |
| December 2016 | 22 Sep 2012 | 1 Mar 2013 |
| November 2016 | 15 Jul 2012 | 1 Mar 2013 |
| October 2016 | 15 Feb 2012 | 1 Mar 2013 |
| September 2016 | 1 Jan 2010 | 1 Jun 2013 |
| August 2016 | 1 Jan 2010 | 1 Jun 2013 |
| July 2016 | 1 Jan 2010 | 1 Jun 2013 |
| June 2016 | 1 Jan 2010 | 1 Jun 2013 |
| May 2016 | 1 Sep 2012 | 1 Jun 2013 |
| April 2016 | 1 Sep 2012 | 1 Jun 2013 |
| March 2016 | 1 Aug 2012 | 1 Jun 2013 |
| February 2016 | 1 Mar 2012 | 1 Jan 2013 |
| January 2016 | 1 Feb 2012 | 1 Jan 2013 |
| December 2015 | 1 Feb 2012 | 1 Jan 2013 |
| November 2015 | 1 Feb 2012 | 1 Jan 2013 |
| October 2015 | 1 Jan 2012 | 1 Jan 2013 |
The queue in numbers
- 34,936 approved EB-2 petitions for people born in mainland China were waiting for a visa number in June 2026 (USCIS, main applicants only). USCIS (XLSX)
- 60,107 approved EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 petitions for people born in mainland China were waiting for a visa number in June 2026: 14,101 in EB-1, 34,936 in EB-2, 11,070 in EB-3 (USCIS, main applicants only). USCIS (XLSX)
- In fiscal year 2024, 20,060 people born in mainland China became permanent residents through EB-1 (6,930), EB-2 (6,770) or EB-3 (6,360); 8,950 of them were spouses and children (DHS). DHS (XLSX)
- Immigrant visa interviews for applicants abroad take place in Guangzhou.
- Your queue follows your country of chargeability, normally your country of birth, not your citizenship. People born in mainland China use its column; anyone born elsewhere uses their birth country's dates, whatever passport they hold.
Questions
What is the EB2 China priority date for October 2026?
In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-2 China Final Action date is 1 Oct 2021 and the Dates for Filing date is 1 Jan 2023. USCIS designated Dates for Filing for filing this month.
What is the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?
Final Action Dates decide when a green card can be approved: your priority date must be earlier than the date shown. Dates for Filing decide when you may submit your I-485 early. Each month USCIS says which chart applicants in the US must use; for October 2026 it is Dates for Filing. If the Final Action date for your category is current or later than the Dates for Filing date, you may file under Final Action instead.
Does my place in line depend on my citizenship?
No. It follows your country of chargeability, which is normally your country of birth. A spouse can sometimes be charged to the other spouse's country of birth (cross-chargeability). People born in Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macau use the rest-of-world dates, not mainland China's.
What do "C" and "U" mean?
"C" (Current) means there is no backlog in that category: any priority date qualifies. "U" (Unavailable) means no visa numbers can be used in that category this month.
What is my priority date?
For most EB-2 and EB-3 cases it is the date your PERM labor certification was filed with the Department of Labor. For EB-1 and EB-2 National Interest Waiver cases, which need no PERM, it is the date USCIS received your I-140. It is printed on your I-797 approval notice.
When does the next bulletin come out?
The State Department usually publishes the next month's bulletin around the middle of the current month, sometimes later. We check every 20 minutes and update within about 30 minutes of release.
What if EB-3 China is ahead of EB-2?
Some applicants with an EB-2 case file a second I-140 in EB-3 based on the same labor certification, often called downgrading. Whether it helps depends on your case and your employer; an immigration attorney should make that call.
Does EB-2 NIW use the same dates?
Yes. National Interest Waiver cases use the EB-2 dates for their country of chargeability.
Is this legal advice?
No. This site reads the official bulletin and the USCIS chart designation for you. For decisions about your case, talk to an immigration attorney.