Visa Bulletin
Where the green card line stands this month
The Visa Bulletin tells you when you can take the last step to a green card. Here are the September 2026 dates for EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3, and what they mean for you.
- Bulletin month
- September 2026
- USCIS chart
- Final Action Dates
- Checked on
- September 23, 2026
- How often updated
- Every month
The short version
What you need to know in September 2026
These are the September 2026 dates, checked on September 23, 2026. A new bulletin comes out each month, and the October 2026 dates start on October 1. When USCIS posts its October chart choice, the dates below will change. (USCIS filing charts)
For employment-based green cards filed inside the US in September 2026, USCIS says to use the Final Action Dates chart. (USCIS filing charts)
EB-1 and EB-2 are current this month for everyone except people born in mainland China or India. Current means there is no line for those categories right now. If you were born in China or India, there is still a wait, and for EB-2 India no visa numbers are available at all this month.
The State Department also warns that EB-1 India may become unavailable and that EB-2 dates may move back or close before the fiscal year ends on September 30. (September 2026 bulletin)
Chart A
Final Action Dates, September 2026
This is the chart USCIS says to use this month for employment-based filings inside the US. A green card can be approved only if your priority date is earlier than the date shown.
| Category | All other countries | China (mainland born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Jul 1, 2023 | Oct 15, 2022 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Sep 1, 2021 | Unavailable | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Sep 1, 2024 | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 1, 2014 | Sep 1, 2024 | Aug 1, 2023 |
Source: Visa Bulletin for September 2026, section A. “Current” is shown as C in the bulletin. “Unavailable” is shown as U, which means no numbers are authorized this month. EB-3 here is the Skilled Workers and Professionals row, not Other Workers.
Chart B
Dates for Filing, September 2026
This chart shows when you can get your documents ready. USCIS did not choose it for employment-based adjustment of status in September 2026, so use it for planning only this month unless USCIS says otherwise.
| Category | All other countries | China (mainland born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Dec 1, 2023 | Dec 1, 2023 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 15, 2015 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Current | Jan 8, 2022 | Jan 15, 2015 | Current | Jan 1, 2024 |
Source: Visa Bulletin for September 2026, section B. Which chart applies inside the US is set each month on the USCIS filing charts page.
How to read it
Read the bulletin in four steps
You only need three things: your category, your country column and your priority date.
-
Find your priority date
This is your place in line. For EB-1A and EB-2 NIW, it is usually the date USCIS received your complete I-140 petition. For PERM cases, it is the date the Department of Labor accepted the labor certification. (8 CFR 204.5(d))
-
Find your row and column
Your row is your category, such as EB-1 or EB-2. Your column is your country of chargeability. For most people this is the country where they were born, which is why the bulletin says “China, mainland born”. Your attorney confirms your column.
-
Check which chart USCIS picked
Each month USCIS says whether people filing inside the US use Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing. In September 2026 it is Final Action Dates for employment-based cases.
-
Compare the dates
“Current” means there is no wait in that category this month. A date means only people with a priority date earlier than that date can move forward. “Unavailable” means no one in that group can get a number this month.
What it means for you
Why this matters for EB-1A and NIW
EB-1A and EB-2 NIW let you file without an employer. But once your petition is approved, you still need a visa number before your green card. The bulletin tells you when that number is ready.
If your category is current for your country, and you are in the US and eligible to adjust status, you may be able to file your green card application (Form I-485) at the same time as your I-140. Your attorney confirms this. If there is a date, you usually file the I-140 first to lock in your priority date, then wait for the date to reach you. (USCIS filing charts)
If you already have an approved EB-1, EB-2 or EB-3 petition, you can generally keep its priority date for a later petition in those categories. This can matter if you move from EB-2 to EB-1A. (8 CFR 204.5(e))
Dates can also move backward. This is called retrogression. The September 2026 bulletin says it may be needed in the coming months as demand changes. Plan with a margin, and do not assume a date will stay where it is.
FAQ
Common questions
Every month. The State Department posts the next month’s bulletin during the current month, and USCIS then says which chart to use. We update this page when a new bulletin comes out. (State Department)
No. Current only means a visa number is not the thing holding you back this month. USCIS still has to approve your petition and your green card application. Processing times vary. You can check them on the USCIS processing times page.
The September 2026 bulletin lists EB-2 India as “U”, which means numbers are not authorized for issuance this month. September is the last month of the fiscal year. A new year of numbers starts October 1, so check the October bulletin when it is posted.
The bulletin groups people by country of chargeability, and for most people that is the country of birth. There are some exceptions, for example in some cases through a spouse. Ask your partner-firm attorney to confirm your column before you plan around it.
No one can promise that. The State Department sets dates based on demand and annual limits, and they can move forward or back. We will not guess a date for you.
See which green card path fits your record
Start with the free evaluation. Upload your resume, with no account or card, and see where you stand for EB-1A, EB-2 NIW and O-1, criterion by criterion. A partner-firm attorney confirms eligibility before anything is filed.
Sources · checked September 2026
- U.S. Department of State, The Visa Bulletin (index)
- U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for September 2026 (Number 18, Volume XI)
- USCIS, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin (updated 09/01/2026)
- eCFR, 8 CFR 204.5(d) and (e): priority date and retention
- USCIS, Check Case Processing Times
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; a partner-firm attorney confirms what applies to you before anything is filed.
