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Bulletin Archive/September 2026

September 2026 Visa Bulletin

Published by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State (Number 18, Volume XI).

Last updated: August 22, 2026

Fiscal Year End Quotas

EB-2 & EB-5 India Unavailable

EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India remain UNAVAILABLE as annual statutory quotas are exhausted for FY2026. Quotas replenish with the October 2026 Visa Bulletin.

Employment Movement

EB-4 Advancements

EB-4 Special Immigrants advanced two full months to December 15, 2022 across all countries. EB-1 India stands at October 15, 2022 and EB-3 India at January 1, 2014.

Family Categories

Major Family Leaps

Significant forward surges across family preferences: F1 jumped over a year to January 22, 2020; F2B reached August 22, 2019; and F3 advanced to October 22, 2014.

September 2026 Bulletin Analysis & Fiscal Year 2026 Closing Notes

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin marks the final month of federal Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026). As expected during year-end quota settlements, categories that reached statutory caps earlier—such as EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India—remain marked as Unavailable (U) for Final Action adjudications through September 30, 2026.

The Department of State notes that numerical limits for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2027 will take effect on October 1, 2026, at which point new annual visa number allocations will unlock and replenish unavailable streams.

USCIS I-485 Adjustment of Status Directive for September 2026:For September 2026, USCIS has officially confirmed that Employment-Based applicants inside the United States must use the Final Action Dates chart (Chart A) for filing Form I-485, while Family-Sponsored applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart (Chart B).
CHART A

Final Action Dates

Reflects visa availability controlling embassy approvals and USCIS green card adjudications.

CategoryROWIndiaChinaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1Priority WorkersCurrentOct 15, 2022Jul 1, 2023CurrentCurrent
EB-2Advanced Degree (Masters/PhD)CurrentUnavailableSep 1, 2021CurrentCurrent
EB-3Skilled Workers/ProfessionalsSep 1, 2024Jan 1, 2014Jan 1, 2022Sep 1, 2024Aug 1, 2023
EB-4Special ImmigrantsDec 15, 2022Dec 15, 2022Dec 15, 2022Dec 15, 2022Dec 15, 2022
EB-5 (Unreserved)Immigrant InvestorsCurrentUnavailableDec 1, 2016CurrentCurrent
EB-5 (Rural)Set-Aside: RuralCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 (High Unemp)Set-Aside: High UnemploymentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 (Infra)Set-Aside: InfrastructureCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
F1Unmarried Adult Child of US CitizensJan 22, 2020Jan 22, 2020Jan 22, 2020Jan 1, 2008May 1, 2013
F2ASpouses and Children of LPRsAug 22, 2026Aug 22, 2026Aug 22, 2026Aug 22, 2025Aug 22, 2026
F2BUnmarried Adult Child of LPRsAug 22, 2019Aug 22, 2019Aug 22, 2019Feb 15, 2009Jun 1, 2013
F3Married Children of US CitizensOct 22, 2014Oct 22, 2014Oct 22, 2014Jul 1, 2001Feb 22, 2006
F4Siblings of US CitizensOct 22, 2011Nov 1, 2006Oct 22, 2011Apr 8, 2001Aug 22, 2007
CHART B

Dates for Filing

Indicates when applicants can submit application packets to the National Visa Center (NVC) or file Form I-485 when permitted by USCIS.

CategoryROWIndiaChinaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1Priority WorkersCurrentDec 1, 2023Dec 1, 2023CurrentCurrent
EB-2Advanced Degree (Masters/PhD)CurrentJan 15, 2015Jan 1, 2022CurrentCurrent
EB-3Skilled Workers/ProfessionalsCurrentJan 15, 2015Jan 8, 2022CurrentJan 1, 2024
EB-4Special ImmigrantsJan 1, 2023Jan 1, 2023Jan 1, 2023Jan 1, 2023Jan 1, 2023
EB-5 (Unreserved)Immigrant InvestorsCurrentMay 1, 2024Mar 1, 2017CurrentCurrent
EB-5 (Rural)Set-Aside: RuralCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 (High Unemp)Set-Aside: High UnemploymentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 (Infra)Set-Aside: InfrastructureCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
F1Unmarried Adult Child of US CitizensFeb 1, 2020Feb 1, 2020Feb 1, 2020Dec 1, 2008Apr 22, 2015
F2ASpouses and Children of LPRsCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
F2BUnmarried Adult Child of LPRsSep 1, 2019Sep 1, 2019Sep 1, 2019May 15, 2010Oct 1, 2013
F3Married Children of US CitizensNov 1, 2014Nov 1, 2014Nov 1, 2014Jul 15, 2001Aug 8, 2006
F4Siblings of US CitizensNov 1, 2011Dec 15, 2006Nov 1, 2011Apr 30, 2001Mar 22, 2008