The State Department published the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, Number 18 of Volume XI, covering the final month of fiscal year 2026. The employment-based chart is close to frozen. The family-sponsored chart contains some of the largest single-month advances in years.
Employment-based: almost nothing moved
Final Action DatesThe Visa Bulletin chart showing the priority dates for which a visa number can actually be issued or a green card approved in that month.See it in the glossary for EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5 are unchanged from August across every ChargeabilityThe country an applicant's visa number is counted against for per-country limits, normally the country of birth rather than citizenship or residence.See it in the glossary area. EB-2 India remains listed as unavailable, meaning no Immigrant visaA visa issued at a consulate to a person intending to live permanently in the United States. On admission the holder becomes a permanent resident.See it in the glossary are authorized for issuance in that category for applicants charged to India.
The one employment-based movement is EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers, where the Final Action Date advanced two months to 15 December 2022 for every chargeability area. The employment-based Dates for FilingThe Visa Bulletin chart showing the earliest priority dates for which applicants may submit documents, or in some months file for adjustment of status, ahead of a visa number being available.See it in the glossary chart is unchanged line for line from August.
USCIS has directed employment-based Adjustment of statusThe process of applying for a green card from within the United States, rather than through a consulate abroad. Filed on Form I-485.See it in the glossary applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart in September. Family-sponsored applicants are directed to the Dates for Filing chart.
Family-sponsored: the largest moves in the bulletin
For applicants charged to All Other Areas, China and India:
- F1 advanced from 15 December 2018 to 22 January 2020, a jump of just over thirteen months. Mexico advanced roughly one month. The Philippines did not move.
- F2B advanced from 1 January 2018 to 22 August 2019. Mexico and the Philippines are unchanged.
- F3 advanced from 15 May 2012 to 22 October 2014, roughly two years and five months. This is the largest move in the bulletin.
- F4 advanced from 1 September 2009 to 22 October 2011 for All Other Areas and China. India, Mexico and the Philippines saw little or no movement.
On the Dates for Filing chart, F1, F2B, F3 and F4 all advanced for All Other Areas, China and India.
Why the family chart moved so far
The bulletin gives the reason directly. Immigrant visa issuance rates for nationals of certain countries have decreased in light of various actions the administration has taken, and the bulletin names Presidential proclamationA formal statement from the President addressed to the public. In immigration, proclamations are often issued under INA 212(f), which lets the President suspend or restrict the entry of noncitizens when the President finds their entry would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. The Supreme Court read that authority broadly in Trump v. Hawaii (2018), though courts have said it cannot override other parts of the INA.See it in the glossary 10949, Presidential Proclamation 10998 and Immigrant Visa Processing Updates. To use the visa numbers available in fiscal year 2026, the Department advanced dates across several categories in recent months.
The same paragraph carries the warning. As additional demand materializes, or if administration actions are amended, RetrogressionWhen a Visa Bulletin cutoff date moves backward, usually because demand exceeded the numbers available for that category.See it in the glossary may be necessary in coming months to keep issuances within annual limits.
The end-of-year warning
September is the last month of fiscal year 2026, which closes on 30 September. The Department states that categories may become unavailable before the end of the fiscal year if annual limits, category limits or pro-rated Per-country limitThe cap, set at 7 percent of the combined family and employment totals, on how many preference visas may go to natives of any single country in a fiscal year.See it in the glossary are reached. It specifically flags EB-1 India, EB-2 across all countries, and EB-5 Unreserved as categories that may retrogress or become unavailable before the fiscal year ends.
An advance on the chart is not the same as a visa in hand. A date that moves forward in September can move backward in October, and a category listed as current today can be listed as unavailable before the month is out.