Quick Answer: September 2026 Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Department of State has released the
with updated cutoff dates for family-sponsored and employment-based green card categories.
If you are filing Form I-485 with USCIS, check the USCIS-designated chart for September 2026 before determining whether your priority date allows you to file. Compare your priority date with the applicable cutoff date for your visa category and country of chargeability.
For applicants filing Form I-485 with USCIS in September 2026, USCIS has designated the following charts:
- Family-sponsored preference categories: Use the Dates for Filing chart to determine when applicants may submit their green card application.
- Employment-based preference categories: Use the Final Action Dates chart to determine whether you may file your adjustment of status application.
Before reviewing the tables below, identify your visa category and compare your priority date with the correct chart:
Is my priority date current?
If your priority date is earlier than the applicable cutoff date, or the category is marked Current (C), you may be eligible to proceed with the step represented by that chart, provided you otherwise meet the applicable requirements.
Key Updates in the September 2026 US Visa Bulletin
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin shows substantial forward movement in several family-sponsored Dates for Filing, while employment-based Final Action Dates are largely unchanged. EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers are the only employment categories that advance from August.
Family-Based Updates from August to September 2026
Family-sponsored applicants should use the Dates for Filing chart to determine whether they can submit their green card application in September 2026.
- F1 advances from June 15, 2019, to February 1, 2020, for All Other Areas, China, and India — a movement of more than 7 months. Mexico and the Philippines remain unchanged.
- F2A remains Current (C) across all countries, with no change from August.
- F2B advances from January 1, 2019, to September 1, 2019, for All Other Areas, China, and India — a movement of 8 months. Mexico and the Philippines remain unchanged.
- F3 advances from March 1, 2013, to November 1, 2014, for All Other Areas, China, and India — a movement of 20 months. Mexico and the Philippines remain unchanged.
- F4 advances from June 22, 2010, to November 1, 2011, for All Other Areas and China — a movement of more than 16 months. India, Mexico, and the Philippines remain unchanged.
The September 2026 Dates for Filing chart therefore provides substantial forward movement in F1, F2B, F3, and F4 for some chargeability areas, while F2A remains Current and several Mexico and Philippines cutoff dates do not change.
Employment-Based Updates from August to September 2026
Employment-based applicants should use the Final Action Dates chart to determine whether their green card application is eligible for approval in September 2026.
- EB-1 remains unchanged across all countries. The category remains Current for All Other Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines, while China stays at July 1, 2023, and India at October 15, 2022.
- EB-2 shows no movement. It remains Current for All Other Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines; China remains at September 1, 2021; and India remains Unavailable (U).
- EB-3 shows no movement across any listed country or chargeability area.
- EB-3 Other Workers also remains unchanged across all countries.
- EB-4 advances by 2 months, from October 15, 2022, to December 15, 2022, across all countries.
- Certain Religious Workers also advance by 2 months, from October 15, 2022, to December 15, 2022, across all countries.
- EB-5 Unreserved remains unchanged. It is Current for All Other Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines; China remains at December 1, 2016; and India remains Unavailable (U).
- EB-5 Set-Aside categories for Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure remain Current across all countries.
The September 2026 Final Action Dates show limited employment-based movement. EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers are the only categories that advance from August, while EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, Other Workers, and all EB-5 categories remain unchanged.
Visa Availability Warnings for September 2026
The Department of State warns that additional employment-based changes may occur before FY 2026 ends on September 30. EB-1 India could become unavailable if its prorated limit is reached. EB-2 and EB-5 Unreserved could also retrogress or become unavailable if demand and visa use reach annual limits. Applicants should continue checking for updates during September.
The tables below show the September 2026 Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. Compare your priority date with the appropriate chart for your visa category and processing method. If you are filing Form I-485 for adjustment of status, confirm which chart USCIS has designated for September 2026 before determining whether you may file.
Official source: U.S. Department of State – Visa Bulletin for September 2026
Family-Sponsored Preferences
Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Applications (September 2026)
| Family-Sponsored Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 22JAN20 | 22JAN20 | 22JAN20 | 01JAN08 | 01MAY13 |
| F2A | 22AUG26 | 22AUG26 | 22AUG26 | 22AUG25 | 22AUG26 |
| F2B | 22AUG19 | 22AUG19 | 22AUG19 | 15FEB09 | 01JUN13 |
| F3 | 22OCT14 | 22OCT14 | 22OCT14 | 01JUL01 | 22FEB06 |
| F4 | 22OCT11 | 22OCT11 | 01NOV06 | 08APR01 | 22AUG07 |
F2A numbers exempt from the per-country limit are available for priority dates before August 22, 2025. Numbers subject to the per-country limit are available for countries other than Mexico for dates beginning August 22, 2025 and before August 22, 2026. Mexico’s F2A numbers are exempt from the per-country limit.
Dates For Filing Family-Sponsored Applications (September 2026)
| Family-Sponsored Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01FEB20 | 01FEB20 | 01FEB20 | 01DEC08 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 15MAY10 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 01NOV14 | 01NOV14 | 01NOV14 | 15JUL01 | 08AUG06 |
| F4 | 01NOV11 | 01NOV11 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 22MAR08 |
Employment-Based Preferences
Final Action Dates For Employment-Based Applications (September 2026)
| Employment-Based Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01JUL23 | 15OCT22 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01SEP21 | U | C | C |
| 3rd | 01SEP24 | 01JAN22 | 01JAN14 | 01SEP24 | 01AUG23 |
| Other Workers | 01APR22 | 01MAY19 | 01JAN14 | 01APR22 | 01DEC21 |
| 4th | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU) | C | 01DEC16 | U | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Dates for Filing Employment-Based Applications (September 2026)
| Employment-Based Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01DEC23 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | C |
| 3rd | C | 08JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | 01JAN24 |
| Other Workers | 01AUG22 | 01OCT19 | 15JAN15 | 01AUG22 | 01AUG22 |
| 4th | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 01MAR17 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
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Diversity Immigrant (DV) Category
The Diversity Immigrant (DV) program provides immigrant visas each fiscal year to applicants from countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United States.
For DV-2026, NACARA-related visa use reduces the annual limit to 54,883. Additional reductions required under the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act bring the DV-2026 limit to approximately 52,101 visas.
Eligibility under the DV-2026 program ends on September 30, 2026. Diversity visas cannot be issued after that date, including for accompanying spouses and children. Because visa numbers are limited, availability may end before the fiscal year closes.
September 2026 Immigrant Numbers in the DV Category
For September 2026, immigrant visa numbers remain available to qualified DV-2026 applicants based on regional allocation limits and rank cutoffs.
Applicants may move forward only if their DV regional lottery rank number is lower than the applicable cutoff number shown in the table below.
Review the September 2026 DV cutoff table and compare your regional rank number to determine whether your case may continue processing this month.
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
| AFRICA | 101,250 | Except: 1. Algeria: 85,000 2. Egypt: 50,000 |
| ASIA | 40,000 | Except: 1. Nepal: 13,500 |
| EUROPE | 47,500 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | CURRENT | |
| OCEANIA | 3,000 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 4,750 |
September 2026 Visa Bulletin: Who’s Eligible to File AOS Right Now
If you are applying for a green card from inside the United States through Adjustment of Status (Form I-485), USCIS determines which Visa Bulletin chart you must use each month.
For September 2026, USCIS directs family-sponsored applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart and employment-based applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart.
To determine eligibility:
- Identify your visa category
- Select your country of chargeability
- Find the correct September 2026 chart
- Compare your priority date with the listed cutoff date
If your priority date is earlier than the listed cutoff date (or the category is marked Current (C)), you may be eligible to move forward with filing or approval.
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Understanding Chart Notations
- C (Current): There is no priority-date cutoff for the category in that chart.
- U (Unauthorized): Visa numbers are not authorized for issuance in that category.
When and How to Check the Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Department of State publishes a new Visa Bulletin each month to show whether green card applicants can move forward based on visa availability and priority dates. To avoid missing filing opportunities, review the latest bulletin monthly and compare your priority date using the correct USCIS filing chart for that month.
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FAQs About Visa Bulletin
What is the September 2026 Visa Bulletin?
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State that lists cutoff dates for family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa categories.
Which Visa Bulletin chart should family-based applicants use in September 2026?
Family-sponsored applicants should use the Dates for Filing chart unless USCIS announces otherwise.
Which Visa Bulletin chart should employment-based applicants use in September 2026?
Employment-based applicants should use the Final Action Dates chart to determine whether their green card application may be approved.
What does “Current” mean on the Visa Bulletin?
Current (C) means there is no priority-date cutoff for that category in the applicable chart. Qualified applicants are not restricted by a priority date for the purpose represented by that chart.
How do I know if my priority date is current?
Compare your priority date with the applicable cutoff date in the USCIS-designated chart for September 2026. If your priority date is earlier than the listed cutoff date, or the category is marked Current (C), you may be eligible to proceed with the next step in your green card process.
