October 2025 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Other Workers India Inches Forward

The October 2025 Visa Bulletin marks the first month of Fiscal Year 2026, and with it comes the annual reset of visa number allocations that can dramatically change who gets to move forward and who must remain in line. For EB-3 Other Workers from India, this month brings a familiar mix of modest progress and enduring constraints. If you are navigating this journey, the best way to stay grounded is to understand how the Visa Bulletin works, what each chart means for your specific case, and what you should do at each stage.

Below is a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap that explains the full process, what’s changed from September to October, what actions are available to you now, and what to expect from authorities in the months ahead. At VisaVerge.com, we help you understand these developments in plain language and plan around them with confidence.

Understanding EB-3 Other Workers and How the Visa Bulletin Governs Your Case

EB-3 is the employment-based third preference category. The “Other Workers” subcategory is for jobs requiring less than two years of training or experience. This subcategory faces a strict worldwide annual cap—no more than 10,000 visas in a year—and that pool is further reduced because of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA).

• Since FY-2002, NACARA requires a yearly reduction to EB-3 Other Workers.
• For FY-2026, the reduction is comparatively small—about 150 visas—leaving roughly 9,850 available worldwide.
• The combination of a small global supply and high demand from oversubscribed countries means EB-3 Other Workers for India consistently experiences deeper backlogs than most categories.

Every month the U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, which sets two critical charts for employment-based categories:

• Final Action Dates — who can be approved this month.
• Dates for Filing — who can file Adjustment of Status (if USCIS is accepting that chart for filings).

To follow the monthly changes consult the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin and watch USCIS announcements about which chart to use for filing via the USCIS adjustment filing charts.

What Changed from September to October 2025 — And Why It Matters

Comparing September 2025 (end of FY-2025) to October 2025 (start of FY-2026) for India in employment-based categories:

• EB-1 India: stayed at 15 February 2022 (no change).
• EB-2 India: moved from 1 January 2013 to 1 April 2013 (forward 3 months).
• EB-3 India: moved from 22 May 2013 to 22 August 2013 (forward 3 months).
• EB-3 Other Workers India: moved from 22 May 2013 to 22 August 2013 (forward 3 months).

That three-month advancement for EB-3 Other Workers is meaningful because it reflects allocation of fresh visa numbers at the start of FY-2026. But in practical terms it still leaves the category more than a decade behind the calendar, meaning approvals are reaching only those with extremely old priority dates.

For Dates for Filing, the outlook is more forgiving. Between September and October:

• EB-3 Other Workers India (Dates for Filing) advanced from 8 June 2013 to 15 August 2014.

This larger leap is significant for applicants in the U.S. hoping to file Adjustment of Status. While a case cannot be approved until the Final Action Date reaches the applicant’s priority date, movement in the Dates for Filing chart allows more people to file their AOS packages and obtain interim benefits such as employment authorization (EAD) and Advance Parole. That can materially improve day-to-day stability while waiting for final green card approval.

Key takeaway: October’s moves provide some short-term filing opportunities, but Final Action advancement remains slow — approvals continue for only a narrow slice of very-old priority dates.

The Reality Check: Are EB-3 Other Workers for India Still Stuck?

Short answer: Yes — the category is still fundamentally stuck despite the incremental movement.

Why it still feels stuck:

• The worldwide cap for Other Workers is small and further reduced under NACARA (FY-2026 ≈ 9,850 visas globally).
• Per-country limits (INA Section 202) mean India can access only about 7% of that total — roughly 700 numbers per year for this subcategory.
• Every dependent (spouse, child) counts against the quota, so those ~700 visas may cover only 250–300 families, depending on family size.
• Demand from India is high across employment-based categories; Other Workers bears the brunt of oversubscription, derivative usage, and limited spillovers.

These structural constraints explain why even multi-month advances translate into slow real-world movement.

Step-by-Step: Your EB-3 Other Workers Journey as an Indian Applicant

This process maps the journey from establishing your place in the queue to final approval. Below are the milestones, what they mean, and what to do at each stage.

1) Establish your priority date
– What it means: Your priority date is your line number in the queue — usually the filing date of the labor certification or the I-140 in some cases.
– Why it matters: The Visa Bulletin compares your priority date to the cutoff dates each month to determine filing/approval eligibility.
– Your action: Keep your priority date documented and accessible — it is your single most important anchor.

2) Track both charts in the monthly Visa Bulletin
– What to watch:
– Final Action Dates = whose green cards can be approved this month.
– Dates for Filing = who may submit Adjustment of Status (if USCIS designates it).
– October’s specifics:
– Final Action (EB-3 Other Workers India): 22 August 2013
– Dates for Filing (EB-3 Other Workers India): 15 August 2014
– Your action: Check the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin monthly and confirm USCIS’s filing chart via the USCIS adjustment filing charts.

3) If you are eligible to file Adjustment of Status under Dates for Filing
– What it means: You can submit AOS even if Final Action is not current for your priority date.
– What you get: Filing AOS secures EAD and Advance Parole, enabling work and travel while waiting.
– Your action: When your priority date is on or earlier than the Dates for Filing cutoff, prepare and submit a complete AOS package and request EAD and Advance Parole.

4) The waiting phase after filing AOS
– What happens: Your case waits for a visa number to become available under Final Action.
– What you can do: Use EAD/Advance Parole for work and travel; maintain case readiness.
– Risk to anticipate: Because supply is limited, multi-year waits between AOS filing and final approval are common. Large influxes of filings can extend backlog timelines.

5) When your Final Action Date becomes current
– What it means: A visa number is available and the government can approve your green card.
– What to expect: If your case is adjudication-ready, approval can be issued. If demand surges, officials may retrogress dates to remain within annual limits, which can pause approvals.

Timeframes and Expectations: What “Progress” Looks Like in FY-2026

• Expect small, incremental monthly advances. The fiscal-year start often delivers forward movement; the three-month push suggests modest monthly nudges going forward.
• Watch for possible mid-year retrogression if demand outpaces allocations (especially with many AOS filings entering late 2025 / early 2026).
• Plan for long waits if your priority date is 2015 or later. Given the category’s position and per-country limits, those with more recent dates will likely wait beyond FY-2026.

Scenario Planning: Where You Stand Today and What to Do

Use October 2025’s cutoffs to determine your next steps:

• Priority date on or before 22 August 2013:
  • Meaning: Current under Final Action. If AOS is filed and case is ready, approval can occur.
  • Action: Confirm all case elements are complete; respond promptly to any requests.
• Priority date after 22 May 2013 and on or before 22 August 2013:
  • Meaning: Newly included in the October advancement; you may be eligible for approval this month if case-ready.
  • Action: Verify all evidence is present, ensure USCIS has your correct contact info, and be prepared to respond to notices.
• Priority date after 22 August 2013 and on or before 15 August 2014:
  • Meaning: Within the Dates for Filing window but not current for Final Action.
  • Action: File AOS (if USCIS accepts the Dates for Filing chart) to secure EAD and Advance Parole.
• Priority date after 15 August 2014:
  • Meaning: Not eligible to file AOS in October 2025 and not close to Final Action.
  • Action: Monitor the Visa Bulletin monthly, adjust timelines, and prepare filings or other plans accordingly.

Why EB-3 Other Workers India Moves So Slowly: Supply Constraints (Deep Dive)

• Worldwide cap plus NACARA reduction:
  • Annual ceiling starts at 10,000, reduced by NACARA (~150 for FY-2026), leaving roughly 9,850 global visas.
• Per-country limits:
  • INA Section 202 caps a single country at 7%, translating to roughly 700 visas per year for India in this subcategory.
• Derivative counting:
  • Spouses and children count against the quota; those ~700 visas may cover only 250–300 families.
• Demand dynamics:
  • High demand from India across EB-2 and EB-3 shrinks available throughput for Other Workers, especially when applicants shift lanes and derivatives accumulate.

Final Action vs. Dates for Filing: What Each Stage Actually Delivers

• Final Action Dates:
  • Determine whose green cards can be approved during the month.
  • October 2025: Final Action for EB-3 Other Workers India = 22 August 2013.
• Dates for Filing:
  • Determine who may submit AOS when USCIS uses the filing chart.
  • The jump to 15 August 2014 opens filing access (and EAD/AP) to a wider group, though it can increase backlog depth.

Important: Filing under Dates for Filing gives you interim benefits but does not guarantee a near-term approval — it often increases the number of pending AOS cases waiting for scarce Final Action allocations.

How EB-3 Other Workers Compares to EB-2 and Main EB-3 for India

• October 2025 positions EB-2 India at 1 April 2013 and EB-3 India at 22 August 2013, continuing the pattern where EB-3 is slightly ahead of EB-2 for India.
• For Other Workers, the apparent EB-3 parity is misleading. Being aligned with EB-3 cutoffs doesn’t yield the same throughput because Other Workers has a smaller visa supply.
• In practice, fewer numbers allocated to Other Workers make movement much slower than main EB-3 or EB-2 despite similar cutoff dates.

Family-Sponsored and Diversity Visa Context: Limited Alternatives for India

• Family-sponsored backlogs remain severe for India:
  • F1: 8 November 2016
  • F3: 8 September 2011
  • F4: 1 November 2006
• The Diversity Visa program is unavailable to Indian nationals due to historical immigration levels.
• Conclusion: Employment-based queues like EB-3 Other Workers remain the primary path for most Indians; alternatives offer little near-term relief.

The Road Ahead for FY-2026: What to Expect and How to Prepare

• Slow but steady advancement is likely, with modest monthly progress.
• Possible retrogression remains a real risk if demand spikes.
• Expect backlog growth through increased AOS filings as Dates for Filing advances bring more applicants into the pipeline.
• No legislative fix is currently in sight; structural constraints (caps, per-country limits, derivative counting) will keep the backlog entrenched unless laws change.

Practical Guidance: How to Navigate October 2025 and Beyond

• Know your exact priority date and compare it monthly against both charts.
• If within Dates for Filing and USCIS accepts that chart, file AOS promptly to secure EAD and Advance Parole.
• If current under Final Action, ensure your case is fully ready to move to approval without delay.
• Anticipate incremental movement and set long-term expectations if your priority date is 2015 or later.
• Monitor for retrogression and respond quickly to requests from authorities.
• Use trusted resources — VisaVerge.com provides clear, month-by-month guidance on reading charts and planning filings.

At VisaVerge.com, we translate the Visa Bulletin into actionable steps tailored to where you stand — whether newly eligible to file AOS, waiting for Final Action for a decade-old priority date, or preparing for the next fiscal year’s movements. We help you map best- and worst-case scenarios so you can plan with clarity.

Bottom Line: Progress, but Still Stuck

• October 2025 delivers a three-month advancement for EB-3 Other Workers India (Final Action: 22 August 2013) and a more generous leap for Dates for Filing: 15 August 2014.
• These are real improvements at the start of FY-2026, but for most applicants — especially those with priority dates in 2015, 2016, or later — this does not translate into near-term approvals.
• The worldwide cap, NACARA reductions, per-country limits, and derivative counting keep this category among the slowest-moving in the employment-based system.

If your goal is to move forward wherever possible:
1. Use the Dates for Filing window to submit AOS and secure EAD/Advance Parole when eligible.
2. Stay laser-focused on your priority date relative to Final Action.
3. Prepare for a long wait punctuated by small advances and potential retrogressions.

With informed planning and steady monitoring, you can capture each opportunity that arises in a system where movement is limited, but not absent. For clear, month-by-month guidance on how the Visa Bulletin affects EB-3 Other Workers from India, visit VisaVerge.com — your trusted partner in navigating every step of this journey.