The September 2026 Visa Bulletin brings substantial forward movement in several family-sponsored categories, including advances of more than two years for some applicants. Most employment-based categories remain unchanged as the fiscal year approaches its September 30 conclusion.
The Department of State attributes the movement to reduced immigrant visa issuance for nationals of certain countries under Administration policies affecting visa processing. To maximize use of available FY 2026 visa numbers, DOS has advanced Final Action Dates and, in some categories, Dates for Filing. Unfortunately, movement of September dates may have come much too late, since the September processing capacity at consular posts may be insufficient to fully utilize the required numbers to reach the annual limits.
Also, it may be noted that the changes which have been made to the Family-sponsored Dates for Filing (chart B) will have very little impact on FY 2026 number use, and are intended to begin generating new demand for the potential use of FY 2027 Family-sponsored numbers.
For applicants who have waited years—or decades—these changes may create an immediate opportunity to pursue final green card approval.
Family-Based Categories: Dramatic September Advances
F1: Unmarried Adult Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
For most countries, including China and India, the Final Action Date advances from December 15, 2018, to January 22, 2020—more than 13 months of forward movement.
Mexico advances modestly from December 1, 2007, to January 1, 2008, while the Philippines remains at May 1, 2013.
A substantial number of long-waiting F1 applicants may now become eligible for final green card approval.
F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
F2A advances by one month for most countries, including China, India and the Philippines, moving from July 22, 2026, to August 22, 2026.
Mexico also advances by one month, from July 22, 2025, to August 22, 2025.
This category remains favorable for spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents.
F2B: Unmarried Adult Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents
F2B is one of September’s biggest beneficiaries.
For most countries, including China and India, the Final Action Date advances from January 1, 2018, to August 22, 2019—nearly 20 months of forward movement in a single Visa Bulletin.
Mexico remains at February 15, 2009, and the Philippines remains at June 1, 2013.
F3: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
F3 experiences some of the most dramatic movement in the September Bulletin.
For most countries, including China and India, the Final Action Date advances from May 15, 2012, to October 22, 2014—approximately 29 months forward.
Mexico remains at July 1, 2001, and the Philippines remains at February 22, 2006.
More than two years of movement in one month is extraordinary for this category.
F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
F4 also advances significantly for most countries.
The worldwide and China Final Action Dates move from September 1, 2009, to October 22, 2011—more than two years forward.
India remains at November 1, 2006, and Mexico remains at April 8, 2001. The Philippines advances modestly from August 1, 2007, to August 22, 2007.
Given the exceptionally long F4 waiting lines, this advance is especially meaningful.
Employment-Based Green Cards: Mostly Unchanged
The employment-based Final Action Date chart is considerably quieter in September.
EB-1: Worldwide remains current. China remains at July 1, 2023, and India remains at October 15, 2022. DOS warns that heavy Indian EB-1 demand could cause the category to become unavailable before September 30 if India’s FY 2026 allocation is exhausted.
EB-2: Worldwide remains current, China remains at September 1, 2021, and India remains unavailable. DOS separately warns that increased EB-2 demand could require retrogression or make the category unavailable before the fiscal year ends.
EB-3: Final Action Dates remain unchanged: worldwide at September 1, 2024; China at January 1, 2022; India at January 1, 2014; and the Philippines at August 1, 2023.
EB-4: The Final Action Date advances from October 15, 2022, to December 15, 2022, across the listed countries. The Certain Religious Workers category makes the same advance.
EB-5 Unreserved: Worldwide remains current, China remains at December 1, 2016, and India remains unavailable for Final Action purposes. DOS warns that increased EB-5 Unreserved demand could require retrogression or make the category unavailable before the end of FY 2026.
EB-5 Set-Asides: The Rural, High Unemployment Area and Infrastructure set-aside categories remain current for every country, including China and India.
Why Is DOS Moving the Dates So Aggressively?
The September Bulletin provides an unusually direct explanation.
DOS states that immigrant visa issuance rates for nationals of certain countries have decreased because of Administration actions affecting visa processing. As a result, DOS has advanced Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing across various categories to make available FY 2026 visa numbers usable by other eligible immigrants. DOS should have been able to monitor and act upon this decline long ago and not wait so long to take such dramatic action during the last month of the fiscal year.
DOS has also determined that the FY 2026 worldwide employment-based preference limit is 186,317, substantially above the normal statutory floor of 140,000. The FY 2026 family-sponsored preference limit is 226,000. DOS calculates the basic per-country limit at 28,862, increasing to 29,136 when applicable EB-5 carryover numbers are included. The drastic movement of the September dates may suggest that FY 2026 Family-sponsored number use could once again be tens of thousands under that 226,000 annual limit.
These figures help explain the government’s effort to maximize visa-number usage before September 30, 2026, the final day of the fiscal year.
Important Caution: Dates Could Retrogress
Applicants should not assume that September’s dramatic advances will continue.
DOS cautions that as additional demand materializes—or if visa-processing policies change—retrogression may become necessary. Categories can also become completely “Unavailable” before September 30 if an annual, category or per-country numerical limit is reached.
Rapid forward movement can itself generate a surge in demand as thousands of previously backlogged cases become eligible for final adjudication.
What Should Applicants Do Now?
Anyone whose priority date has become current should act promptly.
Applicants with pending adjustment applications should confirm that USCIS has everything necessary to approve the case, including timely responses to Requests for Evidence and properly completed medical examinations and supporting documentation.
Applicants processing through U.S. consulates should move quickly to complete documentary requirements and interview processing when instructed by the National Visa Center or consular post.
Applicants whose priority dates are approaching the new cutoffs should prepare now rather than assume the dates will remain unchanged.
The September Visa Bulletin represents an exceptional end-of-fiscal-year opportunity, but visa availability can disappear as quickly as it appears.
The Bottom Line
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin brings extraordinary movement for many family-sponsored immigrants:
- F1: More than 13 months forward for most countries.
- F2A: One month forward.
- F2B: Nearly 20 months forward for most countries.
- F3: Approximately 29 months forward for most countries.
- F4: More than two years forward for most countries.
- EB-4: Two months forward.
- EB-5 set-asides: Current worldwide, including China and India.
For families who have spent years watching the Visa Bulletin move by weeks—or not at all—these advances are remarkable.
September is also the last month of FY 2026, and DOS has warned that some categories could retrogress or become unavailable as visa numbers are exhausted. (Travel State)
For anyone newly current, the message is simple: this is the time to be ready.
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