The US Department of State has released its September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the last of fiscal year 2026. While most employment-based categories held steady with little to no movement from August, several family-sponsored categories saw substantial advances.
But that does not mean applicants can relax. The State Department has warned that high demand could still push some dates backwards or make certain visa categories unavailable before the fiscal year ends on September 30.
Here are eight key things green card applicants and employers need to know.
1. Most visa dates have not moved
There is no forward movement or retrogression in the major categories this month. The State Department says the cutoff dates have “generally held steady from August 2026, with no forward movement or retrogression this month.”
This is a change from earlier in fiscal year 2026, when some categories moved forward while others went backwards. For now, the September bulletin is largely stable.
However, the State Department has made it clear that this stability may not last until the end of the fiscal year.
2. Some dates could move backwards before September ends
The State Department has warned more than once that if demand remains high, it may have to move some cutoff dates backwards or even make certain categories “unavailable” before September 30.
This kind of warning is common in the final month of the fiscal year, but it is especially important this year. Earlier in FY2026, the government moved several dates forward to make better use of the visa numbers available for the year.
Now, as demand catches up, there is a chance that some categories could run out of available numbers. For applicants who are already eligible to file, the message is — do not delay unnecessarily.
3. EB2 and EB5 are already unavailable for Indian applicants
Indian applicants face a particularly difficult situation in two employment-based categories. EB2, which covers people with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, is currently unavailable for India-chargeable applicants. This means no new EB2 approvals or filings can move forward for India under the current availability rules.
The EB5 unreserved investor category is also unavailable for Indian applicants.
The two categories have reached this point because India’s share of the annual employment-based visa numbers has already been heavily used during the fiscal year.
4. EB1 India could become unavailable next
EB1, which covers priority workers, is still available for Indian applicants. Its final action date remains October 15, 2022. But the State Department has specifically warned that EB1 India could be the next category to become unavailable.
The concern is rising demand from Indian applicants. If the number of available visas is used up before September 30, EB1 India could also be made unavailable for the rest of the fiscal year.
That would mean Indian applicants would have to wait until the next fiscal year begins before the category becomes available again.
5. EB2 and EB5 could also see changes for other countries
The risk is not limited to Indian applicants.
The State Department has also warned that the EB2 category overall and the EB5 unreserved category could face retrogression or become unavailable if visa use continues to rise before the end of September.
For Chinese applicants, the EB2 final action date remains September 1, 2021. The EB5 unreserved date remains December 1, 2016.
Neither date has moved, but the State Department says both categories are being “continually monitored” and could still see a last-minute change.
6. EB3 Other Workers has some of the longest waits
Another category that can easily get overlooked is EB3 Other Workers.
For most countries, the final action date is April 1, 2022. For China, it is May 1, 2019. For India, it is January 1, 2014, while the Philippines has a date of December 1, 2021.
These dates show just how long some applicants in this category have already been waiting.
The category often gets less attention than EB2 and the main EB3 professional category, but its backlog remains significant, especially for Indian applicants.
7. Family-based green card dates
The F2A category, which covers spouses and children of US green card holders, remains one of the more favourable family-sponsored categories.
For September, the F2A final action date is August 22, 2026, for most countries, including India, China and the Philippines. Mexico has a cutoff date of August 22, 2025.
Other family-sponsored categories also saw movement in September:
| Category | Most countries (ROW / China / India where applicable) | Notes on Mexico / Philippines / India differences |
|---|---|---|
| F1 (unmarried adult sons/daughters of US citizens) | January 22, 2020 | Mexico: January 1, 2008 Philippines: May 1, 2013 (unchanged) |
| F2B (unmarried adult sons/daughters of permanent residents) | August 22, 2019 | Mexico: February 15, 2009 Philippines: June 1, 2013 |
| F3 (married sons/daughters of US citizens) | October 22, 2014 | Mexico and Philippines remain much older (no significant movement) |
| F4 (siblings of adult US citizens) | October 22, 2011 (ROW + China) | India: November 1, 2006 (unchanged) Philippines: August 22, 2007 Mexico: much older date |
However, applicants from Mexico, India and the Philippines continue to face different cutoff dates in several categories because of higher demand from these countries.
8. USCIS has not yet said which chart applicants can use
The Visa Bulletin does not decide which chart applicants inside the US can use when applying for adjustment of status.
That decision is made separately by USCIS. Each month, USCIS announces whether applicants can use the more generous “Dates for Filing” chart or whether they must use the stricter “Final Action Dates” chart.
As of the release of the September bulletin, USCIS had not yet announced its decision for September.
Based on recent months, employment-based applicants should expect to use the Final Action Dates chart, while family-based applicants are likely to use the Dates for Filing chart.
Still, applicants should check the USCIS website before filing because the agency’s decision can change from month to month.
Why this “no change” bulletin still matters
At first glance, a Visa Bulletin with no movement may not seem like major news. But September is different because it is the final month of the US government’s fiscal year.
Earlier in FY2026, the State Department moved dates forward in several categories to make sure available visa numbers were used before the fiscal year ended.
The agency said this was partly linked to lower visa issuance for nationals of certain countries following recent presidential proclamations and other administration actions that restricted entry.
Those earlier advances helped make use of visa numbers that might otherwise have gone unused.
Now, however, demand is catching up. That is why the State Department is warning that some categories could be pushed backwards or become unavailable before September 30.
Applicants may know more in the final weeks of September. If the State Department does not make a major change before then, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, which will begin fiscal year 2027, could provide a clearer picture of where the backlogs are heading.
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