The U.S. Department of State has released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the final bulletin of Fiscal Year 2026. This month’s update brings substantial advancement in several family-sponsored categories while many employment-based categories remain constrained by high demand and annual numerical limits. The Department of State also confirmed the final FY-2026 numerical limits: 226,000 family-sponsored preference visas and 186,317 employment-based preference visas. The per-country limit is 28,862, with a dependent-area limit of 8,247 before applicable EB-5 carryover provisions.
As FY-2026 comes to a close on September 30, applicants should pay particularly close attention to categories that may become unavailable or retrogress if annual visa numbers are exhausted.
Family-Sponsored Categories – Final Action Dates
F1 – Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
All Chargeability / China / India: January 22, 2020
Mexico: January 1, 2008
Philippines: May 1, 2013
Trend & Outlook: F1 shows significantly more recent Final Action Dates for most countries entering the final month of FY-2026. Mexico and the Philippines continue to remain substantially more backlogged.
F2A – Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
All Chargeability / China / India / Philippines: August 22, 2026
Mexico: August 22, 2025
Trend & Outlook: F2A remains the strongest family-sponsored preference category. The worldwide Final Action Date is now extremely recent, while Mexico remains approximately one year behind.
F2B – Unmarried Adult Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents
All Chargeability / China / India: August 22, 2019
Mexico: February 15, 2009
Philippines: June 1, 2013
Trend & Outlook: F2B remains heavily backlogged for Mexico and the Philippines, while the worldwide category reflects a substantially more recent cut-off date.
F3 – Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
All Chargeability / China / India: October 22, 2014
Mexico: July 1, 2001
Philippines: February 22, 2006
Trend & Outlook: F3 continues to show a sharp distinction between worldwide availability and the long-standing Mexico and Philippines backlogs.
F4 – Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
All Chargeability / China: October 22, 2011
India: November 1, 2006
Mexico: April 8, 2001
Philippines: August 22, 2007
Trend & Outlook: F4 remains one of the most backlogged family categories, particularly for India, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Family-Sponsored Categories – Dates for Filing
F1 – Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
All Chargeability / China / India: February 1, 2020
Mexico: December 1, 2008
Philippines: April 22, 2015
F2A – Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
All Chargeability / China / India / Mexico / Philippines: Current
F2B – Unmarried Adult Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents
All Chargeability / China / India: September 1, 2019
Mexico: May 15, 2010
Philippines: October 1, 2013
F3 – Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
All Chargeability / China / India: November 1, 2014
Mexico: July 15, 2001
Philippines: August 8, 2006
F4 – Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
All Chargeability / China: November 1, 2011
India: December 15, 2006
Mexico: April 30, 2001
Philippines: March 22, 2008
Applicants filing adjustment of status with USCIS must still check the USCIS Visa Bulletin page to determine whether the Dates for Filing chart or Final Action Dates chart may be used for September.
Employment-Based Categories – Final Action Dates
EB-1 – Priority Workers
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: Current
China: July 1, 2023
India: October 15, 2022
Trend & Outlook: EB-1 remains current for most countries. However, the Department of State specifically warns that EB-1 India may become unavailable before the end of FY-2026 if India’s prorated limit is reached.
EB-2 – Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: Current
China: September 1, 2021
India: Unavailable
Trend & Outlook: India remains unavailable in EB-2. The Department of State also warns that increased demand in EB-2 may require additional retrogression or make the category unavailable before the end of the fiscal year.
EB-3 – Skilled Workers and Professionals
All Chargeability / Mexico: September 1, 2024
China: January 1, 2022
India: January 1, 2014
Philippines: August 1, 2023
Trend & Outlook: EB-3 remains significantly more favorable for worldwide applicants and Mexico than for China, India, and the Philippines. India continues to face the longest backlog in this category.
EB-3 Other Workers
All Chargeability / Mexico: April 1, 2022
China: May 1, 2019
India: January 1, 2014
Philippines: December 1, 2021
The FY-2026 reduction to the Other Workers annual limit under NACARA is 116 visas, according to the September bulletin.
EB-4 – Certain Special Immigrants
Worldwide: December 15, 2022
The Certain Religious Workers category also carries a Final Action Date of December 15, 2022 for all countries.
EB-5 – Immigrant Investors
Unreserved EB-5
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: Current
China: December 1, 2016
India: Unavailable
EB-5 Set-Asides
The following categories remain Current for all countries:
- Rural
- High Unemployment
- Infrastructure
The Department of State warns that increased demand and number use in the EB-5 Unreserved category may require retrogression or make the category unavailable before the end of FY-2026.
Employment-Based Categories – Dates for Filing
EB-1 – Priority Workers
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: Current
China: December 1, 2023
India: December 1, 2023
EB-2 – Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: Current
China: January 1, 2022
India: January 15, 2015
EB-3 – Skilled Workers and Professionals
All Chargeability / Mexico: Current
China: January 8, 2022
India: January 15, 2015
Philippines: January 1, 2024
EB-3 Other Workers
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: August 1, 2022
China: October 1, 2019
India: January 15, 2015
EB-4 – Certain Special Immigrants
All Chargeability / China / India / Mexico / Philippines: January 1, 2023
EB-5 – Immigrant Investors
Unreserved – All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: Current
Unreserved – China: March 1, 2017
Unreserved – India: May 1, 2024
Diversity Visa – DV-2026
September is the final month in which DV-2026 visas may be issued.
The September regional cut-offs are:
- Africa: 101,250 ; Algeria: 85,000 ; Egypt: 50,000
- Asia: 40,000 ; Nepal: 13,500
- Europe: 47,500
- North America (Bahamas): Current
- Oceania: 3,000
- South America and the Caribbean: 4,750
The Department of State confirms that the DV-2026 annual limit has been reduced to 52,101 visas after accounting for applicable NACARA and NDAA reductions. Most importantly, all DV-2026 eligibility ends on September 30, 2026. No DV-2026 visas may be issued after that date, even if an applicant was selected. The Department also cautions that available numbers could be exhausted before September 30.
Why Some Categories Advanced During FY-2026
The September bulletin provides additional context for the advancement seen across several categories during recent months. The Department of State explains that immigrant visa issuance rates decreased during FY-2026 due in part to administration policies affecting visa processing and U.S. diplomatic posts experiencing limited or suspended visa operations because of global events.
To ensure available FY-2026 immigrant visa numbers could still be used, the Department advanced both Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing in various categories. However, the Department cautions that retrogression may still occur during the final weeks of September if additional demand materializes. Categories can also become unavailable if annual, category, or per-country limits are reached.
FY-2026 Visa Limits Confirmed
The September bulletin also provides the final numerical limits for Fiscal Year 2026:
- Family-Sponsored Preference Limit: 226,000
- Employment-Based Preference Limit: 186,317
- Per-Country Limit: 28,862
- Dependent Area Limit: 8,247
After accounting for applicable EB-5 carryover numbers, the per-country limit increases to 29,136, and the dependent-area limit increases to 8,325.
Categories to Watch Before September 30
The Department of State specifically identifies three employment-based categories that could face additional limitations before FY-2026 ends:
- EB-1 India: May become unavailable if India’s prorated limit is reached.
- EB-2: May retrogress or become unavailable because of increased demand and visa usage.
- EB-5 Unreserved: May also retrogress or become unavailable if demand reaches the annual limit.
Applicants in these categories should closely monitor visa availability through the end of September.
Bottom Line
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin closes FY-2026 with significant family-sponsored advancement, continued strong availability in several worldwide employment-based categories, and substantial backlogs for India in EB-2 and EB-5 Unreserved. The bulletin also carries an important warning: because September is the last month of the fiscal year, visa availability can change quickly. EB-1 India, EB-2, and EB-5 Unreserved could retrogress or become unavailable before September 30 if annual numerical limits are reached.
The next major point to watch will be the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, when Fiscal Year 2027 begins and new annual immigrant visa numbers become available.
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Citation
DOS Visa Bulletin: September 2026
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REBECCA KROLL is an Associate Attorney at Richards and Jurusik who practices exclusively in U.S. immigration law, focusing on both business and family-based immigration. She assists clients with employment-based visas, marriage and family cases, and the U.S. citizenship process. (Full Bio)
