The U.S. Department of State has released its September 2026 Visa Bulletin, setting out when family-sponsored and employment-based green card applicants may move forward with their cases. September is the final month of fiscal year 2026, and the department warned that several employment-based categories could face further restrictions before September 30 if their annual visa limits are reached.
What changed
The State Department released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin for family-sponsored and employment-based green card applicants. The categories under particular pressure include EB-1 India, EB-2 and unreserved EB-5.
The bulletin contains a Final Action Dates chart, which determines when a visa number may be issued, and a Dates for Filing chart, which can allow applicants to submit documents earlier. As of August 22, USCIS had not posted its September chart selection. People applying for adjustment of status through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must use the chart USCIS designates for September.
For family-based applicants, the F2A category, covering spouses and children of lawful permanent residents, remains among the most favorable family-sponsored categories, with its September final-action date of August 22, 2026, for most countries, including China, India and the Philippines.
Why it matters
The September visa bulletin is the last one before the end of fiscal year 2026 on September 30. This timing is critical for practitioners advising clients on whether to file now or wait for the October bulletin. Several employment-based categories could face further restrictions before September 30 if their annual visa limits are reached.
Your choice of which chart to use—Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing—can shift filing strategy by weeks or months. An applicant’s priority date must be earlier than the listed cutoff, with “Current” meaning no cutoff applies, while “Unavailable” means visa numbers are not authorized for issuance in that category. USCIS’s delayed announcement of which chart applies in September adds urgency to reviewing the bulletin once the agency makes its designation.
Way forward
- Review the visa bulletin immediately. Check the September 2026 Visa Bulletin against your client’s priority date, country of origin, and employment-based or family-based category.
- Confirm USCIS’s chart selection. Once USCIS posts its September chart designation, align your filing strategy with the chart it designates for adjustment of status cases.
- Monitor EB categories for retrogression. If you have clients in EB-1 India, EB-2, or EB-5, confirm their priority dates are current before the end of September; visa numbers may exhaust quickly given year-end pressure.
- Plan for October. For clients whose priority dates are not yet current, prepare to file in October when fiscal year 2027 begins and visa allocations reset.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Articles.folaform.com is not a law firm. Immigration law changes frequently and the details of your specific situation may affect how these rules apply to you. Always consult with a licensed immigration attorney before making filing decisions. Verify all information against the official State Department Visa Bulletin and any USCIS announcements, as policy and guidance can change without notice.