Archive · 24 Aug 2026
September 2026 Visa Bulletin Holds Dates, Warns of Backlogs
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin explains when some people may move forward with green card applications.
Most employment-based dates did not change this month.
However, the government warned that some dates could move backward or become unavailable before September 30.
Indian applicants currently cannot move forward in the EB2 and EB5 unreserved categories.
EB1 India is still available but could close if too many people use the remaining visas.
Some categories also have very long waits, especially for Indian applicants.
Family-based categories have different dates depending on the applicant’s country.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services had not yet decided which filing chart people inside the United States could use.
Applicants were advised to check official government updates before filing.
Most employment-based cutoff dates held steady in September, with no broad forward movement or retrogression.
The State Department warned that high demand could cause retrogression or make categories unavailable before September 30.
EB2 and EB5 unreserved are unavailable for Indian applicants, while EB1 India could become unavailable next.
EB2 and EB5 unreserved categories for other countries, including China, are also being monitored for possible changes.
USCIS had not announced whether adjustment-of-status applicants could use the Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates chart.
- Who
- Green card applicants, employers, the United States Department of State, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- What
- The September 2026 Visa Bulletin largely kept cutoff dates unchanged while warning that some categories could retrogress or become unavailable.
- When
- September 2026, the final month of fiscal year 2026; possible changes could occur before September 30.
- Where
- United States employment-based and family-sponsored immigration categories, with different cutoffs for applicants chargeable to countries including India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines.
- Why
- Visa demand is catching up with available annual numbers after earlier fiscal-year advances, creating a risk that some categories will run out of visas.
- Bulletin month
- September 2026, the final month of fiscal year 2026
- India EB2 status
- Unavailable for India-chargeable applicants
- India EB5 status
- The EB5 unreserved category is unavailable for India-chargeable applicants
- India EB1 date
- Final action date remains October 15, 2022, but the category could become unavailable
- China EB2 date
- Final action date remains September 1, 2021
- China EB5 unreserved date
- Final action date remains December 1, 2016
- USCIS chart decision
- The agency had not announced whether September adjustment applicants could use Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates