The worldwide final action date for EB-3 Other Workers moved back three months to January 1, 2022. Here is what changed and what it means if you were born in Taiwan, Hong Kong or mainland China.
The U.S. Department of State published the October 2026 Visa Bulletin on September 29, 2026. It is the first bulletin of fiscal year 2027. For the EB-3 Other Workers category (jobs needing less than two years of training or experience), the worldwide queue stepped back after a year of steady progress.
The October 2026 dates
| Country of birth | Final action date | Date for filing |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and most countries | Jan 1, 2022 (was Apr 1, 2022) | Jun 1, 2022 (was Aug 1, 2022) |
| Mainland China | Oct 1, 2019 (forward 5 months) | Oct 1, 2020 |
| India | Jan 1, 2014 | Jan 15, 2015 |
| Mexico and the Philippines | Jan 1, 2022 | Jun 1, 2022 |
The final action date decides when a green card can actually be approved. Your case can be completed when your priority date is earlier than the date shown for your country of birth.
How fast has the queue been moving?
For most countries, the final action date moved from July 15, 2021 in the October 2025 bulletin to April 1, 2022 in September 2026, about nine months of progress in a year. October 2026 took back three of those months. The queue is now almost five years behind the calendar.
What it means for you
- Born in Taiwan or Hong Kong: you use the worldwide dates, currently about two years ahead of mainland China.
- Born in mainland China: you use the China dates, unless your spouse was born elsewhere and you immigrate together (see our article on country of birth).
- Starting a new case now: your priority date will be the date your employer files PERM, likely in 2027. Plan for roughly 4 to 6 years or more in total.
- Already in the U.S. with valid status: for October 2026, USCIS accepts employment-based adjustment of status applications using the Dates for Filing chart.
We update the dates on this site every month when the new bulletin is published.
Official sources
- U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin
- USCIS, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
More articles
- EB-3 unskilled costs: what the employer pays and what you pay
- Born in Taiwan or Hong Kong? How country of birth affects your EB-3 wait
- Who qualifies for EB-3 Other Workers (unskilled) sponsorship?
- PERM labor certification, step by step: what happens and who does what
- Who pays for EB-3? What the employer must cover and what you normally pay
- Real EB-3 employer or scam? How to check before you pay anything
- EB-3 unskilled jobs: typical duties, how wages are set and how to read a listing
- Can my spouse and children come too? How EB-3 family members are included
- Consular processing or adjustment of status: which route applies to EB-3 workers abroad?
- The immigrant visa medical exam and interview: what to expect and what to bring
- Living costs by state: how to think about rent, transport and food on an EB-3 wage
- Can I change jobs after the green card? The intent-to-work principle and job portability
- If your EB-3 employer withdraws or goes out of business: what happens and what to do
- English and job training for EB-3 unskilled workers: what you need and how to prepare
- Your rights as a green-card worker in the US: minimum wage, overtime, safety and where to complain
- Why EB-3 cases get delayed or refused: common reasons and what you can control
- EB-3 vs EB-2: what changes if your qualifications go up, and what happens to your priority date
- Warning signs in recruiter promises: what to question before you pay or travel
- Your first 90 days in the U.S. after arriving on an immigrant visa