EB-5 Insights: What the October 2026 Visa Bulletin Signals for Investors
The U.S. Department of State has released the delayed October 2026 Visa Bulletin. The reserved categories (Rural, High-Unemployment (HUA), and Infrastructure) remain current, but the big news is the significant movement for the China unreserved category in the Dates for Filing (Chart B) and the Final Action Dates (Chart A) for India.
With the start of the new fiscal year in October, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicated that applications for adjustment of status with USCIS can use the Dates for Filing (Chart B). For mainland China, that date advanced four years to March 1, 2021, compared with the September Visa Bulletin, when it was March 1, 2017.
The Final Action Dates (Chart A) in the Visa Bulletin determine when immigrant visas can be issued through consular processing overseas or through adjustment of status with USCIS. The Dates for Filing (Chart B) determine when EB-5 investors can assemble and submit their required documents to a consular post or file an adjustment of status petition (Form I-485).
For Indian investors, the unreserved category had been unavailable since the June 2026 Visa Bulletin. However, with the start of the new fiscal year, visas are once again available, and the Final Action Dates (Chart A) advanced to December 1, 2023. This is nearly 1.5 years beyond from what was indicated in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin (the last time unreserved Indian visas were available) when the Final Action Date was listed as May 1, 2022.
The Indian unreserved Final Action Date is well past the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA), and the Dates for Filing for Chinese investors suggest that we may be approaching the end of the pre-RIA backlog. It should be noted, however, that the Final Action Date (Chart A) for China remains December 1, 2016, which is unchanged from the September Visa Bulletin. However, the rapid advance in the Dates for Filing (Chart B) is still positive momentum. This is good news for a potential backlog of pending cases in the reserved categories because if those categories retrogress in fiscal year 2027, applicants may opt to switch to the unreserved category at the time of consular processing.
For anyone looking at EB-5 right now, the Rural, HUA, and Infrastructure reserved categories remain current, which benefits those investors seeking to file an adjustment of status application concurrently with their Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor (Form I-526E).
Project demand is surging ahead of the investment amount increase deadline on January 1, 2027. If you’re interested in discussing your immigration aspirations or learning more about EB-5, our team at CMB Regional Centers is ready when you are.
