September 2026 Visa Bulletin Released
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin shows mostly steady dates but warns of potential retrogression. USCIS has not confirmed which charts applicants must use.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin on August 22, 2026. Cutoff dates for both employment-based and family-based categories are generally unchanged from August, with no forward movement or retrogression reported this month.
The DOS continues to caution that retrogression, or categories becoming "unavailable," may be required later in the fiscal year to keep visa issuances within annual limits. All listed employment-based cutoff dates refer to the Final Action Dates chart (Chart A), while the family-based dates refer to the Dates for Filing chart (Chart B).
USCIS has not yet confirmed which charts adjustment-of-status applicants may use for September. Based on recent practice, employment-based applicants are expected to continue using the Final Action Dates chart and family-based applicants the Dates for Filing chart. Applicants should confirm the applicable chart on the USCIS website before filing, a key step for any e filing uscis process.
Employment-Based Visa Cutoffs
Most employment-based preference categories show no movement from the previous month's bulletin. The DOS warns that high demand could lead to retrogression or unavailability before the fiscal year ends.
| Category | Country/Area | Final Action Date |
|---|---|---|
| EB1 | India | 15.Oct.2022 |
| EB1 | China | 01.Jul.2023 |
| EB2 | China | 01.Sep.2021 |
| EB3 | India | 01.Jan.2014 |
| EB3 | China | 01.Jan.2022 |
| EB3 | All Other Countries | 01.Sep.2024 |
| EB3 | Philippines | 01.Aug.2023 |
| EB3 Other Workers | India | 01.Jan.2014 |
| EB3 Other Workers | China | 01.May.2019 |
| EB3 Other Workers | Philippines | 01.Dec.2021 |
| EB3 Other Workers | All Other Countries | 01.Apr.2022 |
| EB4 | All Countries | 15.Dec.2022 |
| EB5 Unreserved | China | 01.Dec.2016 |
In the EB1 category, all dates are unchanged. India holds at October 15, 2022, and China at July 1, 2023. EB1 remains current for all other countries. The DOS warns that high demand from India may make the EB1 category unavailable for India in the coming weeks if its pro-rated limit is reached.
EB2 India remains "unavailable" for September, meaning no applications can be filed or approved. China's date holds at September 1, 2021. EB2 is current for all other countries. Sufficient demand may force retrogression or unavailability before the fiscal year ends.
The EB4 category final action date is December 15, 2022 for all countries, including the subcategory for certain religious workers.
For the EB5 category, the unreserved category is "unavailable" for India. China's cutoff is December 1, 2016. The EB5 unreserved category is current for all other areas. The three EB5 set-aside categories (rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure) remain current for all countries. The DOS warns that demand in the EB5 unreserved category may necessitate retrogression or unavailability.
Family-Based Visa Cutoffs
Under the Dates for Filing chart, the FB2A category remains current for all countries. For the FB2B category, the cutoff date is September 1, 2019 for all countries except Mexico and the Philippines.
| FB2B Category (Dates for Filing) | Country | Cutoff Date |
|---|---|---|
| FB2B | All Countries (except below) | 01.Sep.2019 |
| FB2B | Mexico | 15.May.2010 |
| FB2B | Philippines | 01.Oct.2013 |
Warnings of Future Retrogression
The DOS reports that immigrant visa issuance rates for applicants from certain countries have decreased due to various administration actions taken to protect national security and public safety. To use available visa numbers in FY 2026, dates were advanced in recent months.
The agency cautions that as additional demand materializes or administration actions are amended, retrogression may be necessary in upcoming months. Categories may become "unavailable" before the fiscal year ends if annual, category, or per-country limits are reached. Foreign nationals with pending or upcoming cases should be prepared for this possibility and file when eligible, closely monitoring the visa queue for their specific category. The source for this information is the Murthy Law Firm.
