What changed in the September 2026 bulletin
Against last month: 10 employment-based dates advanced, 0 retrogressed, 40 held. The biggest advances: EB-4 for most countries (+2 months to 15 Dec 2022), EB-4 China (+2 months to 15 Dec 2022), EB-4 India (+2 months to 15 Dec 2022) and EB-4 Mexico (+2 months to 15 Dec 2022).[1]
Of the 25 family-sponsored cells, 14 match last month; 11 advanced and 0 went backward. The biggest advances: F3 for most countries (+20 months to 01 Nov 2014), F3 China (+20 months to 01 Nov 2014), F3 India (+20 months to 01 Nov 2014) and F4 for most countries (+16 months to 01 Nov 2011).
| Category | Country | Before | September | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F3 | Rest of world | 01 Mar 2013 | 01 Nov 2014 | ▲ 20 months |
| F3 | China | 01 Mar 2013 | 01 Nov 2014 | ▲ 20 months |
| F3 | India | 01 Mar 2013 | 01 Nov 2014 | ▲ 20 months |
| F4 | Rest of world | 22 Jun 2010 | 01 Nov 2011 | ▲ 16 months |
| F4 | China | 22 Jun 2010 | 01 Nov 2011 | ▲ 16 months |
| F2B | Rest of world | 01 Jan 2019 | 01 Sep 2019 | ▲ 8 months |
| F2B | China | 01 Jan 2019 | 01 Sep 2019 | ▲ 8 months |
| F2B | India | 01 Jan 2019 | 01 Sep 2019 | ▲ 8 months |
| F1 | Rest of world | 15 Jun 2019 | 01 Feb 2020 | ▲ 8 months |
| F1 | China | 15 Jun 2019 | 01 Feb 2020 | ▲ 8 months |
September 2026 employment-based dates
Arrows compare each date with August 2026, the month before. EB-2 India held at Unavailable. Category history: EB-2, EB-3, EB-2 India.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C■ | 01 Jul 2023■ | 15 Oct 2022■ | C■ | C■ |
| EB-2 | C■ | 01 Sep 2021■ | U■ | C■ | C■ |
| EB-3 | 01 Sep 2024■ | 01 Jan 2022■ | 01 Jan 2014■ | 01 Sep 2024■ | 01 Aug 2023■ |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01 Apr 2022■ | 01 May 2019■ | 01 Jan 2014■ | 01 Apr 2022■ | 01 Dec 2021■ |
| EB-4 | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Dec 2022▲ advanced 2 months |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C■ | 01 Dec 2016■ | U■ | C■ | C■ |
The three EB-5 set-aside rows (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) were current for every country in September 2026.
September 2026 family-sponsored dates
Family dates are compared with August 2026. F2A for most countries was current, unchanged. 29 cells were current (C). History: F2A; backlog in years: wait-time table.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01 Feb 2020▲ advanced 8 months | 01 Feb 2020▲ advanced 8 months | 01 Feb 2020▲ advanced 8 months | 01 Dec 2008■ | 22 Apr 2015■ |
| F2A | C■ | C■ | C■ | C■ | C■ |
| F2B | 01 Sep 2019▲ advanced 8 months | 01 Sep 2019▲ advanced 8 months | 01 Sep 2019▲ advanced 8 months | 15 May 2010■ | 01 Oct 2013■ |
| F3 | 01 Nov 2014▲ advanced 20 months | 01 Nov 2014▲ advanced 20 months | 01 Nov 2014▲ advanced 20 months | 15 Jul 2001■ | 08 Aug 2006■ |
| F4 | 01 Nov 2011▲ advanced 16 months | 01 Nov 2011▲ advanced 16 months | 15 Dec 2006■ | 30 Apr 2001■ | 22 Mar 2008■ |
Fiscal year 2026 context
September 2026 falls in the last quarter of fiscal year 2026. This is when categories that have used their annual limit can be marked U (unavailable) until October. USCIS used a different employment chart in October 2025, so the year-to-date comparison is not like for like. In September 2026, 2 cells were marked U: EB-2 India, EB-5 Unreserved India.
USCIS's choice of chart matters as much as the dates: in September 2026 it accepted Final Action Dates for employment-based I-485s.[3] The chart history page lists every month's choice since 2015.
- Previous month: visa bulletin August 2026
- Next month: visa bulletin October 2026
- Check your own date: priority date calculator
Frequently asked questions
Did EB-2 India move in the September 2026 visa bulletin?
No. EB-2 India stayed at Unavailable on the Final Action Dates chart, the same as August 2026.
Which chart did USCIS accept for September 2026?
For employment-based adjustment of status, USCIS accepted Final Action Dates; for family-sponsored cases, Dates for Filing. Applicants whose category is current on the Final Action Dates chart may also file under it.
Was any category unavailable in September 2026?
Yes: EB-2 (India), EB-5 Unreserved (India) showed U, meaning no visa numbers could be used that month.
When was the September 2026 visa bulletin in effect?
From September 1 to September 30, 2026. The State Department publishes each bulletin in the middle of the previous month.
Sources
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: September 2026
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: August 2026
- Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
- The Visa Bulletin (monthly publication and archive)