Visa Bulletin for September 2026

What this is

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin sets the cut-off dates that determine whether your employment-based or family-sponsored green card application can move forward or be filed. Your priority date must be earlier than the cut-off for your category and country. EB-2 India is unavailable this month.

Source: Visa Bulletin for September 2026 · in effect from 1 September 2026

What you need to know

• EB-1 final action: India cut-off is 15 Oct 2022; China cut-off is 01 Jul 2023; all other countries, Mexico, and Philippines are current.
• EB-1 dates for filing: India and China cut-off is 1 December 2023; all other countries, Mexico, and Philippines are current.
• EB-2 final action: India is unavailable (no applications can proceed); China cut-off is 1 September 2021; all other countries, Mexico, and Philippines are current.
• EB-2 dates for filing: India cut-off is 15 Jan 2015; China cut-off is 01 Jan 2022; all other countries, Mexico, and Philippines are current.
• EB-3 final action: India cut-off is 01 Jan 2014; China cut-off is 01 Jan 2022; Philippines cut-off is 01 Aug 2023; all other countries and Mexico cut-off is 01 Sep 2024.
• EB-3 dates for filing: India cut-off is 15 Jan 2015; China cut-off is 08 Jan 2022; Philippines cut-off is 01 Jan 2024; all other countries and Mexico are current.
• EB-3 Other Workers final action: India cut-off is 01 Jan 2014; China cut-off is 01 May 2019; Philippines cut-off is 01 Dec 2021; all other countries and Mexico cut-off is 01 Apr 2022.
• EB-3 Other Workers dates for filing: India cut-off is 15 Jan 2015; China cut-off is 01 Oct 2019; all other countries, Mexico, and Philippines cut-off is 01 Aug 2022.
• EB-4 final action: all countries including India, China, Mexico, and Philippines have a cut-off of 15 December 2022.
• EB-4 dates for filing: all countries have a cut-off of 1 January 2023.
• F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) final action: India, China, and all other countries cut-off is 22 Jan 2020; Mexico cut-off is 01 Jan 2008; Philippines cut-off is 01 May 2013.
• F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) final action: India, China, all other countries, and Philippines cut-off is 22 Aug 2026; Mexico cut-off is 22 Aug 2025.
• F2A dates for filing: all countries including India, China, Mexico, and Philippines are current.
• F2A dates for filing: All countries are current — you may file now regardless of priority date.
• F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters 21 or older of Permanent Residents) final action: India, China, and all other countries cut-off is 22 August 2019; Mexico is 15 February 2009; Philippines is 1 June 2013.
• F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) final action: India, China, and all other countries cut-off is 22 Oct 2014; Mexico cut-off is 01 Jul 2001; Philippines cut-off is 22 Feb 2006.
• F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens) final action: India cut-off is 01 Nov 2006; China and all other countries cut-off is 22 Oct 2011; Mexico cut-off is 08 Apr 2001; Philippines cut-off is 22 Aug 2007.

Source: Visa Bulletin for September 2026 · in effect from 1 September 2026

What to do

• Find your priority date on your I-140 approval notice (employment-based) or I-130 approval notice (family-sponsored).
• Compare your priority date to the final action cut-off for your category and country; if your date is earlier than the cut-off, you may proceed to your final step.
• If your priority date is earlier than the dates-for-filing cut-off for your category and country, you may be able to submit Form I-485 even if the final action date has not yet been reached.
• Locate your priority date — it appears on your immigrant visa petition or I-140 approval notice.
• If your priority date is earlier than the 'dates for filing' cut-off for your category and country, you may be able to submit your adjustment of status application before your final action date is reached — check whether USCIS has authorised use of these dates for this month.

Source: Visa Bulletin for September 2026 · in effect from 1 September 2026

Frequently asked questions

My priority date is 2018 and I'm India-chargeability EB-2 — can I file or receive approval this month? EB-2 India shows 'U' (unavailable) this month, which means no India-born EB-2 applicant can receive a visa or green card approval regardless of their priority date. The dates for filing show 15JAN15, so a 2018 priority date is also past that cutoff — there is nothing to file or receive this month.

My EB-3 India priority date is December 20, 2013 — am I current for final action? The EB-3 India final action date is January 1, 2014, so any priority date before that date can proceed to approval. December 20, 2013 is before that cutoff, so your case is current for final action in September 2026.

My green card holder spouse filed for me as their spouse — can my case move forward this month? F2A final action dates are August 22, 2026 for India and most countries, so cases with priority dates before that date can be approved this month. The dates for filing are current for all countries, meaning you can also submit an I-485 now if you have not already done so.

My EB-1 India priority date is March 2023 — can I at least file my I-485 adjustment of status application? The EB-1 India dates for filing show December 1, 2023, and a March 2023 priority date is before that cutoff, so USCIS will accept an I-485 filing. The final action date is October 15, 2022, so a March 2023 priority date is not yet current for approval — you can file and wait for the date to advance.

My U.S. citizen sibling filed for me under F4 with India chargeability and my priority date is September 2006 — am I current? The F4 India final action date is November 1, 2006, so cases with priority dates before that date can proceed to approval. A September 2006 priority date is before that cutoff, which means your case is current for final action in September 2026.

When does this take effect? It takes effect on 2026-09-01. Dates named in the document: 2022-10-15; 2023-07-01; 2021-09-01; 2014-01-01; 2022-01-22; 2024-09-01; 2023-08-01; 2019-05-01; 2022-04-01; 2021-12-01; 2022-12-15; 2023-12-01; 2015-01-15; 2022-01-01; 2022-01-08; 2024-01-01; 2019-10-01; 2022-08-01; 2023-01-01; 2020-01-22; 2008-01-01; 2013-05-01; 2026-08-22; 2025-08-22; 2019-08-22; 2009-02-15; 2013-06-01; 2014-10-22; 2001-07-01; 2006-02-22; 2006-11-01; 2011-10-22; 2001-04-08; 2007-08-22; 2020-02-01; 2008-12-01; 2015-04-22; 2019-09-01; 2010-05-15; 2013-10-01; 2014-11-01; 2001-07-15; 2006-08-08; 2006-12-15; 2011-11-01; 2001-04-30; 2008-03-22.

Who does this apply to? This relates to Green Card, I-140, PERM, Family.

Where does this information come from? U.S. Department of State, published at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html.

Source: Visa Bulletin for September 2026 · in effect from 1 September 2026

Related topics

Green Card, I-140, PERM, Family

Source: Visa Bulletin for September 2026 · in effect from 1 September 2026