The September 2026 Visa Bulletin shows sharply different conditions in family-sponsored and employment-based immigration. Several family preference Final Action Dates move forward by more than a year, while most employment-based dates remain exactly where they were in August. Because September is the final month of Fiscal Year 2026, those movements are best understood as visa-number management based on reported demand rather than as a direct measure of how much of the underlying backlog has been eliminated.
What changed from August to September 2026?
September does not show uniform forward movement. The family-sponsored side advances substantially in several categories, while the employment-based side is largely held at August levels. That distinction matters because the two preference systems are responding to different patterns of demand within the same annual numerical framework.
DOS states that the September allocations were made using demand reported through August 10, 2026. For an oversubscribed category, the published Final Action Date represents the priority date of the first applicant who could not be reached within the numerical limits. If an annual or category limit is reached, DOS can make the category unavailable even before the month ends.
The key reading rule: a two-year advance in a cutoff does not mean DOS processed two years of cases during one month. The cutoff is a numerical-control point reflecting reported demand and available visa numbers.
Family-sponsored categories show the largest August-to-September advances
The strongest movement is visible in the family-sponsored Final Action Dates for the worldwide group, China and India. F3 moves from May 15, 2012 to October 22, 2014, while F4 moves by more than two years for the worldwide group and China. F2B also advances substantially.
| Category / chargeability | August 2026 | September 2026 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 — Worldwide, China, India | Dec. 15, 2018 | Jan. 22, 2020 | +1 year, 1 month, 7 days |
| F1 — Mexico | Dec. 1, 2007 | Jan. 1, 2008 | +1 month |
| F1 — Philippines | May 1, 2013 | May 1, 2013 | No change |
| F2A — Worldwide, China, India, Philippines | July 22, 2026 | Aug. 22, 2026 | +1 month |
| F2B — Worldwide, China, India | Jan. 1, 2018 | Aug. 22, 2019 | +1 year, 7 months, 21 days |
| F2B — Mexico / Philippines | Feb. 15, 2009 / June 1, 2013 | Same | No change |
| F3 — Worldwide, China, India | May 15, 2012 | Oct. 22, 2014 | +2 years, 5 months, 7 days |
| F3 — Mexico / Philippines | July 1, 2001 / Feb. 22, 2006 | Same | No change |
| F4 — Worldwide, China | Sept. 1, 2009 | Oct. 22, 2011 | +2 years, 1 month, 21 days |
| F4 — India | Nov. 1, 2006 | Nov. 1, 2006 | No change |
| F4 — Philippines | Aug. 1, 2007 | Aug. 22, 2007 | +21 days |
Why did some family dates move so far?
DOS gives an unusually direct explanation. Immigrant visa issuance rates for nationals of certain countries have declined following various administration actions concerning national security, public safety and other U.S. interests. DOS states that it has therefore advanced filing and Final Action Dates across several immigrant visa categories in recent months so that available FY2026 numbers can potentially be used by prospective immigrants from other countries.
That explanation changes how the September advances should be interpreted. A large forward movement does not necessarily indicate a permanent reduction in the underlying family-based backlog. It can instead reflect the number of documentarily qualified or otherwise reported applicants currently competing for the available annual allocation.
DOS also expressly warns that additional demand or changes in administration actions can require later retrogression. A category may become unavailable if an annual limit, category limit or prorated per-country limit is reached.
Practical meaning: applicants who become current because of a September advance should treat the published cutoff as the applicable date for that month, not as a guarantee that the same date will remain in effect later.
Family-sponsored Dates for Filing also move
The family Dates for Filing chart advances as well. For the worldwide group, China and India, F1 moves from June 15, 2019 to February 1, 2020; F2B from January 1, 2019 to September 1, 2019; F3 from March 1, 2013 to November 1, 2014; and F4 for the worldwide group and China from June 22, 2010 to November 1, 2011.
F2A remains Current in the September Dates for Filing chart for every listed chargeability area. This does not mean every F2A case is eligible for final approval. Final visa issuance remains governed by actual visa-number availability, and applicants filing Form I-485 must follow USCIS's separate monthly chart-selection rules.
Most employment-based Final Action Dates remain at August levels
Employment-based movement is much more limited. EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, Other Workers and EB-5 Unreserved retain their August Final Action Dates. EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers are the principal exceptions, advancing from October 15, 2022 to December 15, 2022.
| Category | September Final Action Date | August to September | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | China: July 1, 2023; India: Oct. 15, 2022; others Current | No change | India is specifically identified by DOS as at risk of becoming unavailable before FY2026 ends. |
| EB-2 | China: Sept. 1, 2021; India: U; others Current | No change | India remains unavailable; DOS warns that EB-2 may require further restriction before September 30. |
| EB-3 Skilled Workers / Professionals | ROW/Mexico: Sept. 1, 2024; China: Jan. 1, 2022; India: Jan. 1, 2014; Philippines: Aug. 1, 2023 | No change | The Final Action Date is unchanged from August. |
| Other Workers | ROW/Mexico: Apr. 1, 2022; China: May 1, 2019; India: Jan. 1, 2014; Philippines: Dec. 1, 2021 | No change | The separate Other Workers allocation remains constrained. |
| EB-4 | Dec. 15, 2022 | +2 months | One of the few employment-based categories with September movement. |
| Certain Religious Workers | Dec. 15, 2022 | +2 months | The cutoff advances in parallel with EB-4. |
| EB-5 Unreserved | China: Dec. 1, 2016; India: U; others Current | No change | DOS adds a specific FY-end availability warning for the unreserved category. |
| EB-5 Set-Asides | Rural, High Unemployment and Infrastructure: Current | No change | No published September cutoff applies to the three set-aside categories. |
The FY2026 employment-based numerical limit is now known
This is an important change from the information available in the August bulletin. In August, DOS described the worldwide employment-based level as at least 140,000 because the data needed for the final annual calculation had not yet been incorporated. USCIS provided the required information to the Visa Office on July 24, and DOS subsequently determined the FY2026 employment-based preference limit to be 186,317.
The 140,000 figure is the statutory base level for employment-based preference immigration. Under the INA, the final annual employment-based limit can increase when applicable unused family-sponsored preference numbers are added. The September bulletin therefore provides the completed FY2026 numerical calculation.
DOS also gives a standard per-country preference limit of 28,862 and a dependent-area limit of 8,247 for FY2026. It notes that those figures do not include applicable EB-5 carryover provisions; with those numbers included, the corresponding figures are 29,136 and 8,325.
Three FY2026 employment availability risks to watch before September 30
DOS says high demand and number use may require EB-1 India to become unavailable in the coming weeks if India's prorated EB-1 limit is reached before the fiscal year ends.
DOS states that sufficient demand and increased number use may require retrogression or make the category unavailable before the end of FY2026 in order to remain within the annual numerical limit.
The September bulletin adds a specific warning that the unreserved category could retrogress or become unavailable before September 30 if number use reaches the applicable FY2026 limit.
What does “U” mean in the Visa Bulletin?
“U” means unavailable: immigrant visa numbers are not authorized for issuance in that category and chargeability area at that time. It does not, by itself, mean that an underlying I-140, I-130 or adjustment application has been denied.
This distinction is particularly important for EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India in September. A case may remain pending, but final immigrant visa issuance or adjustment approval cannot occur unless an immigrant visa number is available.
Employment-based Dates for Filing do not move in September
The September employment-based Dates for Filing chart is unchanged from August. EB-1 China and India remain at December 1, 2023. EB-2 China remains January 1, 2022 and EB-2 India remains January 15, 2015. EB-3 China remains January 8, 2022, India remains January 15, 2015 and the Philippines remains January 1, 2024, while EB-3 is Current for the worldwide group and Mexico.
The lack of movement does not mean that every pending employment-based case has stopped. It means DOS did not move the September Dates for Filing beyond their August positions.
DV-2026: September cutoffs rise, but eligibility ends on September 30
Diversity Visa cases require a different reading. The August Visa Bulletin had already announced the DV rank cutoffs that would apply in September, so the September bulletin confirms those previously announced figures rather than introducing an unexpected new set of regional cutoffs.
| Region | August 2026 | September 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 60,000 | 101,250 | +41,250 |
| Algeria | 51,250 | 85,000 | +33,750 |
| Egypt | 36,000 | 50,000 | +14,000 |
| Asia | 40,000 | 40,000 | No change |
| Nepal | 13,500 | 13,500 | No change |
| Europe | 29,000 | 47,500 | +18,500 |
| Oceania | 2,050 | 3,000 | +950 |
| South America and the Caribbean | 4,000 | 4,750 | +750 |
| North America — Bahamas | Current | Current | No cutoff |
A regional rank number below the published cutoff means that a DV number can be available to a qualified applicant. It does not guarantee an interview, visa issuance or adjustment approval. The applicant must still complete all required processing and remain eligible while DV numbers are available.
DV-2026 visa eligibility ends September 30, 2026. DOS states that DV-2026 visas may not be issued after that date. The same fiscal-year limit applies to eligible spouses and children deriving status from DV-2026 principal applicants.
DOS also cautions that DV numbers can be exhausted before September 30. A case that is current therefore should not be treated as if a visa number were automatically reserved through the end of the month.
The September bulletin refines the annual DV calculation as well. Visa numbers used under the applicable NACARA provisions reduce the DV-2026 level to 54,883, and amendments enacted through the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act reduce the number further to approximately 52,101.
How to read Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing correctly
The most important practical distinction in the Visa Bulletin is the difference between eligibility to move forward with filing and eligibility for final immigrant visa issuance or adjustment approval. The two DOS charts serve different functions.
Family-sponsored cases may fall into F1, F2A, F2B, F3 or F4. Employment-based cases may fall into EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4 or EB-5 and, where applicable, a specific subcategory.
The Visa Bulletin separately lists China-mainland born, India, Mexico and the Philippines because these chargeability areas are oversubscribed. Most other applicants use the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column.
Where a date is listed, the applicant's priority date must be earlier than the published cutoff. “C” means Current. “U” means numbers are not authorized for issuance in that category at that time.
A Dates for Filing cutoff can allow the next stage of case preparation or filing before a visa number is available for final action. A case may therefore be eligible to file but not yet eligible for final approval.
USCIS determines which Visa Bulletin chart adjustment-of-status applicants may use for a particular month. The DOS Visa Bulletin does not, by itself, authorize use of the Dates for Filing chart for Form I-485.
September 2026 Form I-485 chart status
As of August 22, 2026: USCIS had not yet posted a separate September 2026 chart-selection notice on its Visa Bulletin filing page. The September DOS bulletin states that, unless USCIS indicates otherwise, adjustment-of-status applicants must use the Final Action Dates charts to determine when they may file. Applicants should check the USCIS page again immediately before submitting Form I-485 because USCIS may subsequently authorize use of the Dates for Filing chart.
This point is especially important for applicants whose priority date is earlier than a September Date for Filing but not earlier than the corresponding Final Action Date. The later filing date does not automatically create I-485 filing eligibility without the applicable USCIS determination.
Why September movement should not be projected directly into October 2026
September and October fall on opposite sides of the federal fiscal-year boundary. September is the final month in which DOS allocates FY2026 preference numbers. On October 1, FY2027 begins and a new annual numerical allocation becomes available.
September movement should therefore not be assumed to continue at the same pace in October. A category that becomes unavailable because its FY2026 allocation has been exhausted may become available again when the new fiscal year begins. Conversely, a family-sponsored category that advances sharply in September can later be recalibrated if additional demand appears after the cutoff has moved.
DOS itself warns that recent forward movement may need to be reversed as additional demand materializes or if the administration actions affecting visa issuance change. September's family advances therefore should not be read as a commitment to equal or further movement in October.
October 2026 cutoffs will depend on the new FY2027 allocation and the demand reported after September's broader family-sponsored movement. The October bulletin therefore has to be evaluated on its own figures rather than by extending September's rate of movement.
September 2026 Visa Bulletin FAQ
Does a two-year cutoff advance mean two years of backlog were cleared?
No. A Final Action Date is a numerical-control point, not a count of how many years of cases were adjudicated during one month. DOS moves cutoffs according to reported demand and the visa numbers available under annual, category and country limits.
Why is EB-2 India unavailable while EB-2 is Current for many other countries?
Employment-based immigrant numbers are subject to preference-category rules and statutory per-country limits. Demand from a particular chargeability area can exhaust the numbers available to that area even while numbers remain available to applicants chargeable elsewhere.
Can I file Form I-485 if my priority date is earlier than the September Date for Filing?
Not automatically. USCIS determines which Visa Bulletin chart may be used for adjustment filing each month. At the time this analysis was prepared on August 22, 2026, USCIS had not yet posted its September chart selection. Until USCIS indicates otherwise, the September DOS bulletin directs adjustment applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart.
If my category is Current, is approval guaranteed?
No. “Current” means the Visa Bulletin does not impose a priority-date cutoff for qualified applicants in that category and chargeability area. The petition, admissibility, documentary requirements, eligibility for adjustment or immigrant visa issuance, and all other applicable requirements still must be satisfied.
What should applicants watch during September?
Employment-based applicants should watch for DOS or USCIS updates affecting EB-1 India, EB-2 and EB-5 Unreserved because DOS has specifically identified those areas as possible FY-end availability risks. DV-2026 applicants should focus on the September 30 end of DV-2026 visa eligibility and the possibility that available DV numbers may be exhausted earlier.
Official Sources
This analysis compares the official August and September 2026 Visa Bulletins and separates DOS visa-number availability from USCIS adjustment-of-status filing rules.
- September 2026 Visa Bulletin: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-september-2026.html
- August 2026 Visa Bulletin: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-august-2026.html
- USCIS Visa Bulletin and Adjustment of Status filing information: https://www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo
- Department of State Immigrant Visa Scheduling Status Tool: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/iv-wait-times.html
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