September 2026 Visa Bulletin: Family-Based Green Cards Move Forward
The Department of State released its September 2026 Visa Bulletin showing significant advancement in family-sponsored categories, with some waiting periods shortened by up to 20 months—though employment-based visas face end-of-fiscal-year pressure.
What Moved This Month
September brings significant forward movement in several family-based categories: F-1 advances by about 7.5 months, F-2B by eight months, F-3 by 20 months, and F-4 by more than 16 months for most countries. These jumps reflect decreased immigrant visa issuance rates during FY-2026 due to administration policies affecting visa processing, prompting the Department of State to advance both Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing to ensure available visa numbers could still be used.
Important note: For September 2026, applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories must use the "Dates for Filing" chart, while applicants in all employment-based preference categories must use the "Final Action Dates" chart. This distinction affects whether you can file documents early or must wait for a visa number to become available.
Risk of End-of-Fiscal-Year Reversals
September is the final month of fiscal year 2026, and the Department warned that several employment-based categories could face further restrictions before September 30 if their annual visa limits are reached. Categories under particular pressure include EB-1 India, EB-2, and unreserved EB-5.
What You Should Do
If your priority date is current or approaching, file your adjustment of status application or consular processing paperwork now—waiting until October risks missing the FY-2026 quota. Consult the official Visa Bulletin to find your category cutoff date, and work with an immigration attorney to determine which chart applies to your case.
Sources
MyHAbroad is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representing any government or public authority. This is general information only — not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Always verify with the official source before acting:
