U.S. Visa Bulletin September 2026: Family and Employment-Based Visa Updates

The U.S. Department of State has released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, providing important information about immigrant visa availability for family-sponsored and employment-based categories.

USA IMMIGRATION UPDATES

MSD Consultant Pakistan

9/22/20263 min read

The U.S. Department of State has released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, providing important information about immigrant visa availability for family-sponsored and employment-based categories.

The bulletin includes the latest Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for applicants waiting for immigrant visas or, where permitted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), adjustment of status.

Because visa availability can change from month to month, applicants should review the latest official information and consider their individual circumstances before taking action.

What Is the U.S. Visa Bulletin?

The U.S. Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the U.S. Department of State. It provides information about when immigrant visa numbers are available for certain family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories.

The bulletin uses two important types of dates:

Final Action Dates — indicate when an immigrant visa may be authorized for issuance, subject to the applicable requirements.
Dates for Filing — indicate when certain applicants may begin submitting required documentation to the National Visa Center.

For applicants seeking adjustment of status inside the United States, USCIS determines which chart may be used for filing during a particular month. Applicants should therefore check the USCIS Visa Bulletin information before filing.

Family-Sponsored Visa Categories

The September 2026 bulletin provides Final Action Dates for several family-sponsored preference categories, including:

F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
F2A: Spouses and children of permanent residents
F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 or older of permanent residents
F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens

The applicable date depends on the preference category and the applicant's country of chargeability.

For example, the September Final Action Date for F1 is 22 January 2020 for most chargeability areas, while the F2A Final Action Date is 22 August 2026 for most areas. Different dates apply to certain countries, including China, India, Mexico and the Philippines.

The Dates for Filing chart also contains different dates, and F2A is listed as current across the listed chargeability areas for September.

Employment-Based Visa Categories

The September 2026 bulletin also provides important information for employment-based immigrant categories.

These include:

EB-1: Priority workers
EB-2: Members of the professions holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability
EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals and other workers
EB-4: Certain special immigrants
EB-5: Employment creation investors

The September Final Action Dates vary considerably depending on the category and country of chargeability.

For most chargeability areas, EB-1 is listed as current, while EB-2 is also current. However, India and China have separate cut-off dates in several employment-based categories. For example, the September Final Action Date for EB-2 is 1 September 2021 for China and U for India, while EB-3 has a Final Action Date of 1 September 2024 for most chargeability areas and 1 January 2014 for India.

These dates are subject to change as the Department of State monitors demand and available visa numbers.

DiversityVisaProgram:Important September Deadline

The September bulletin also provides the final monthly cut-offs for the DV-2026 Diversity Visa program.

The Department of State states that entitlement to DV-2026 immigrant status ends on September 30, 2026. DV-2026 visas cannot be issued after that date, and visa availability through the end of the fiscal year is not guaranteed because numbers could be exhausted earlier.

Applicants who have been selected for DV-2026 should therefore pay close attention to official instructions and the availability of visa numbers.

Visa Availability Can Change

One important point in the September bulletin is that visa availability is not necessarily fixed.

The Department of State explains that increased demand can result in retrogression, meaning a previously available cut-off date may move backward. A category may also become unavailable if the applicable annual or country-specific limit is reached.

The bulletin specifically identifies potential pressure in several employment-based areas, including EB-1 for India, EB-2 and EB-5.

This means applicants should not assume that a date shown in one month's bulletin will remain unchanged in a future month.

What Applicants Should Do

Applicants should carefully identify:

Their immigrant visa preference category
Their priority date
Their country of chargeability
Whether they are processing through a U.S. embassy or consulate or applying for adjustment of status
Which Visa Bulletin chart applies to their situation

Applicants should also check the latest information from the U.S. Department of State and USCIS before submitting an application or making decisions based on a Visa Bulletin date.

Final Thoughts

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin provides an important snapshot of immigrant visa availability as the U.S. fiscal year approaches its end.

Family-sponsored and employment-based applicants should review the dates that apply to their specific category and country rather than relying on a general headline or another applicant's timeline.

Visa availability is subject to change, and the information in a monthly bulletin should not be treated as a guarantee of when an individual case will be completed.

For applicants who are unsure how their priority date, visa category or country of chargeability affects their immigration process, obtaining an assessment of their individual circumstances can help them understand the relevant requirements and available options.

Important: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or guarantee visa approval. Applicants should consult official U.S. government sources and obtain professional advice where appropriate.

Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for September 2026.