What Green Card Categories Advance for Mexicans in October?

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin for green cards advances the final action dates for Mexico in the family categories F1, F2A, F2B, and F4. F2B registers the largest advance of 15 months; F3 remains unchanged in that chart, although its date for submitting documents does advance. Having a priority date before the cutoff does not guarantee approval of residency.

The U.S. State Department published the October 2026 Visa Bulletin with advances in 4 family green card categories for Mexicans. The changes, applicable during October, expand the cases that can reach a final action date under the visa limits established by law.

What Family Categories Advance for Mexico?

In the final action chart of the October Visa Bulletin, F2B presents the largest movement. This category corresponds to unmarried adult children of permanent residents ages 21 and older. Its date moves from February 15, 2009 to May 15, 2010.

F2A, for spouses and children under 21 of permanent residents, advances from August 22, 2025 to March 22, 2026. F1, intended for adult unmarried children of U.S. citizens, moves from January 1 to September 8, 2008.

F4, for siblings of U.S. citizens at least 21 years old, moves from April 8 to April 22, 2001. In contrast, F3, for married children of citizens, maintains July 1, 2001 as the final action date.

The dates compare the final action charts from September and October published by the State Department. They do not represent the time it will take a person to receive residency.

What Does Reaching the Cutoff Date Mean?

The priority date indicates the place of the case in the immigration queue. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it must be before, not equal to, the applicable cutoff date. Beyond that availability, the person must meet all other requirements to obtain residency.

For example, in F2B for Mexico, a priority date of May 10, 2010 falls before the October cutoff. One of May 15, 2010 does not qualify. The 15-month advance corresponds to the bulletin movement, not a guaranteed reduction in individual waiting time.

These family preferences are subject to numerical limits. The State Department explains that the Immigration and Nationality Act distributes