September 2026 U.S. Visa Bulletin: Family Green Cards Make Big Leaps as Employment-Based Visas Hit Wall
- Editorial Team
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Washington D.C., August 24, 2026 — The U.S. Department of State has released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the final update for fiscal year 2026, revealing a stark contrast between family-sponsored and employment-based immigration categories. Family-sponsored final action dates have advanced sharply for the second consecutive month, with some categories jumping by more than two years, while nearly every employment-based category has remained unchanged or, for certain countries like India, become "unavailable" .
The bulletin also carries a critical warning from the State Department that high-demand employment-based categories, particularly for India, could retrogress or become unavailable before the fiscal year ends on September 30 as visa number limits are reached .
Published: August 24, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team
Family-Sponsored Categories: Significant Advances
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin brought significant relief to family-sponsored applicants, with final action dates moving forward across multiple categories for most chargeability areas .
Category | Previous Date | New Date | Movement |
F1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens) | December 15, 2018 | January 22, 2020 | +13 months |
F2A (Spouses & minor children of LPRs) | July 22, 2026 | August 22, 2026 | +1 month |
F2B (Unmarried adult children of LPRs) | January 1, 2018 | August 22, 2019 | +20 months |
F3 (Married children of U.S. citizens) | May 15, 2012 | October 22, 2014 | +29 months |
F4 (Brothers & sisters of U.S. citizens) | August 22, 2007 | October 22, 2011 (majority) | +26 months |
The F3 category saw the most dramatic movement, advancing by approximately 29 months, while F4 advanced by about 26 months for most countries . The F2A category remains one of the friendliest for applicants with a final action date of August 22, 2026, which is only one month behind the current date .
For Indian applicants, the gains were equally notable :
Category | Indian Final Action Date | Movement |
F1 | January 22, 2020 | From December 15, 2018 |
F2A | August 22, 2026 | From July 22, 2026 |
F2B | August 22, 2019 | From January 1, 2018 |
F3 | October 22, 2014 | From May 15, 2012 |
F4 | November 1, 2006 | Unchanged |
Employment-Based Categories: Stagnation and Warnings
Employment-based applicants faced a much less favorable picture in the September bulletin. Most employment-based final action dates remained unchanged from August, and for Indian nationals, two key categories are currently "unavailable" .
Category | India | China | Rest of World |
EB-1 (Priority Workers) | October 15, 2022 | July 1, 2023 | Current |
EB-2 (Advanced Degrees/Exceptional Ability) | U (Unavailable) | September 1, 2021 | Current |
EB-3 (Skilled Workers/Professionals) | January 1, 2014 | January 1, 2022 | September 1, 2024 |
EB-4 (Special Immigrants) | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 |
EB-5 (Unreserved) | U | December 1, 2016 | Current |
EB-2 India: Unavailable
The EB-2 India final action date remains "unavailable" (marked "U") for September, meaning no immigrant visa numbers are authorized for issuance in this category during the final month of the fiscal year . This restriction prevents applicants with priority dates in EB-2 India from receiving final approval or filing for adjustment of status that would require a visa number. The State Department has also warned that sufficient demand could cause further retrogression or continued unavailability .
EB-1 India at Risk
While EB-1 India currently has a final action date of October 15, 2022, the State Department has issued a specific warning that high demand and visa number use by Indian applicants could make the category "unavailable" in the coming weeks . This warning indicates the category is at risk of running out of numbers before September 30.
EB-5 India Unavailable; Set-Asides Current
The EB-5 unreserved investor category for India is also marked "unavailable" in September . However, applicants should note that all three EB-5 set-aside categories—rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure—remain current for India . This means investment visa numbers are still available for qualifying projects in these categories.
EB-4 and Religious Workers Advance Slightly
The only positive movement in the employment-based categories came in EB-4 (Special Immigrants) and Certain Religious Workers, which advanced by two months to December 15, 2022 .
Key Takeaways for Applicants
Aspect | Family-Sponsored | Employment-Based |
Overall Movement | Significant advances across F1, F2B, F3 | Mostly unchanged from August |
Biggest Advance | F3: +29 months | EB-4: +2 months |
India Situation | Strong gains in F1, F2B, F3 | EB-2 and EB-5 unreserved: Unavailable |
Current Warning | None | EB-1 India at risk; EB-2/EB-5 may retrogress |
Fiscal Year End | September 30, 2026 | September 30, 2026 |
What Happens on October 1?
The end of fiscal year 2026 does not mean unavailable categories will remain permanently closed. Annual immigrant visa numbers reset with the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, 2026, although applicable cut-off dates can change depending on demand and visa availability . Indian applicants should therefore distinguish between:
Unavailable categories – EB-2 India and EB-5 India unreserved
Available categories with warnings – EB-1
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