September 2026 Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin. Cutoff dates across the employment-based and family-based categories generally hold steady from August 2026, with no forward movement or retrogression this month, but the DOS continues to caution that retrogression, or categories becoming “unavailable,” may be necessary later in the fiscal year to keep visa issuances within the annual limits. All employment-based cutoff dates listed below refer to the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), while the family-based cutoff dates refer to the Dates for Filing chart (i.e., Chart B).

USCIS has not yet confirmed which charts adjustment-of-status applicants may use for September. Based on recent practice, we expect employment-based applicants to continue using the Final Action Dates chart and family-based applicants to continue using the Dates for Filing chart, but applicants should confirm the applicable chart on the USCIS website before filing.

Visa Bulletin Summary

Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1) Category

In the EB1 category, all cutoff dates remain unchanged from August. India’s final action date holds at 15.Oct.2022, and China’s holds at 01.Jul.2023. EB1 remains current for all other countries of chargeability. The DOS warns that high demand and number use by applicants chargeable to India may make the EB1 category unavailable for India in the coming weeks if India’s pro-rated limit is reached before the fiscal year ends.

Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2) Category

EB2 India remains “unavailable,” which means that no applications in this category can be filed or approved for India this month. China’s cutoff date remains 01.Sep.2021, and EB2 remains current for all other countries of chargeability. The DOS notes that sufficient demand and increased number use may make it necessary to retrogress the EB2 final action date, or make the category unavailable, before the end of the fiscal year.

Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) Category

In the EB3 category, India’s cutoff date remains 01.Jan.2014 and China’s remains 01.Jan.2022. For all other countries of chargeability, the EB3 cutoff date remains 01.Sep.2024, except the Philippines, which remains at 01.Aug.2023.

EB3 Other Workers

In the EB3 Other Workers category, the final action date is 01.Jan.2014 for India, 01.May.2019 for China, and 01.Dec.2021 for the Philippines. The cutoff date for all other countries of chargeability is 01.Apr.2022.

Employment-Based, Fourth Preference (EB4) Category

In the EB4 category, the final action date is 15.Dec.2022 for all countries of chargeability. This same cutoff date applies to the EB4 subcategory for certain religious workers.

Employment-Based, Fifth Preference (EB5) Category

In the EB5 unreserved category, India is “unavailable,” and China’s cutoff date is 01.Dec.2016. The EB5 unreserved category remains current for all other chargeability areas. The three EB5 set-aside categories (rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure) remain current for all countries. The DOS warns that sufficient demand and increased number use in the EB5 unreserved category may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date, or make the category unavailable, before the end of the fiscal year.

Family-Based, Second-Preference (FB2A and FB2B) Category

Under the Dates for Filing chart, the FB2A category remains current for all countries of chargeability. In the FB2B category, the Dates for Filing cutoff date is 01.Sep.2019 for all countries, except Mexico at 15.May.2010 and the Philippines at 01.Oct.2013.

Retrogression Possible in the Coming Months

The DOS reports that immigrant visa issuance rates for applicants from certain countries have decreased in light of various administration actions taken to protect national security and public safety and to otherwise advance U.S. interests. To use the immigrant visa numbers available in FY 2026, dates for filing and final action dates have been advanced across various categories in recent months. The DOS cautions that, as additional demand materializes or administration actions are amended, retrogression may be necessary in the upcoming months to keep issuances within the annual limits, and categories may become “unavailable” before the end of the fiscal year if annual, category, or pro-rated per-country limits are reached. Foreign nationals with pending or upcoming cases should be prepared for this possibility and file when eligible.

Conclusion

We will continue to monitor and report on movement and predictions related to the monthly visa bulletin. Subscribe to the free MurthyBulletin to receive weekly updates on the latest in U.S. immigration.

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