September 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB Visa Numbers May Hit Limits

 

The vast majority of the dates remain unchanged in the September Visa Bulletin. According to the State Department, some employment-based categories may reach their annual visa numerical limits before September ends.  

However, due to previous travel bans and visa issuance pauses for certain countries, a significant number of immigrant visas may have remained unused by overseas consulates. Since the current fiscal year is coming to a close, if the family-based visa numbers do not get exhausted by the end of the month, they will overflow to employment-based cases starting in October (the first month of fiscal year 2027), which likely will bring some advancements to October cut-off dates.

We will keep an eye on the upcoming Visa Bulletin to see how the numbers land. In the meantime, potential applicants should prepare ahead and engage an experienced immigration professional to ensure they are fully positioned to file for Adjustment of Status the moment their priority date becomes current.

AD: Dates for Final Action (Green Card Approval)  

FD: Dates for Filing Applications Only

Family-Based

All Others

China

India

Mexico

Philippines

F1

A:01/22/20

F:02/01/20

A:01/22/20

F: 02/01/20

A:01/22/20

F:02/01/20

A:01/01/08

F:12/01/08

A: 05/01/13

F: 04/22/15

F2A

A:08/22/26

F: Current

A: 8/22/26

F: Current

A:08/22/26

F: Current

A:08/22/25

F: Current

A: 08/22/26

F: Current

F2B

A:08/22/19

F:09/01/19

A:08/22/19

F:09/01/19

A:08/22/19

F:09/01/19

A: 02/15/09

F: 05/15/10

A: 06/01/13

F: 10/01/13

F3

A: 10/22/14

F: 11/01/14

A: 10/22/14

F: 11/01/14

A: 10/22/14

F: 11/01/14

A: 07/01/01

F: 07/15/01

A: 02/22/06

F: 08/08/06

F4

A: 10/22/11

F: 11/01/11

A: 10/22/11

F: 11/01/11

A: 11/01/06

F: 12/15/06

A: 04/08/01

F: 04/30/01

A: 08/22/07

F: 03/22/08

1st: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year).

2A: The 2 “A” preference is for Spouses and Children (under 21 & unmarried) of LPR's.
2B: The 2 “B” Preference is for Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or older) of LPR's.
3rd: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year)
4th: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens. (about 65,000 per year)

Employment-Based

All Others

China

India

Mexico

Philippines

EB-1

A: Current

F: Current

A: 07/01/23

F: 12/01/23

A: 10/15/22

F: 12/01/23

A: Current

F: Current

A: Current

F: Current

EB-2

A: Current

F: Current

A: 09/01/21

F: 01/01/22

A:
Unavailable

F: 01/15/15

A: Current

F: Current

A: Current

F: Current

EB-3

A: 09/01/24

F: Current

A: 01/01/22

F: 01/08/22

A: 01/01/14

F: 01/15/15

A: 09/01/24

F: Current

A: 08/01/23

F: 01/01/24

Other Workers

A: 04/01/22

F: 08/01/22

A: 05/01/19

F: 10/01/19

A: 01/01/14

F: 01/15/15

A: 04/01/22

F: 08/01/22

A: 12/01/21

F: 08/01/22

EB-4

A: 12/15/22

F: 01/01/23

A: 12/15/22

F: 01/01/23

A: 12/15/22

F: 01/01/23

A: 12/15/22

F: 01/01/23

A: 12/15/22

F: 01/01/23

EB-5

A: Current

F: Current

A: 12/01/16

F: 03/01/17

A:
Unavailable

F: 05/01/24

A: Current

F: Current

A: Current

F: Current

1st: Priority Workers (Extraordinary ability aliens, multinational companies' executives/managers, outstanding prof./researchers)
2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.
3rd: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers (Unskilled.)
4th: “Special Immigrants” (Religious & others)
5th: Employment Creation (Investors)

*China and India EB-5 visa numbers for rural, high unemployment & infrastructure areas/projects are current.

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)  



Appointments

  • Phone Consultations
  • Out of State Services
  • VISA/MC/AE Accepted (with processing fees)

We serve clients from all countries and walks of life from investors, professionals, skilled labourers, and people wishing to join their family members in the USA.

Contact Us

1-732-632-9888

Paul Szeto LLC.
190 State Route 27
No. Edison, NJ 08820 USA
info@szetolaw.com

Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Admissions & Associations

Bar Admissions:
  • New York State Bar
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • New Jersey State Bar
  • Middlesex County Bar Association
  • California Bar (inactive)
Associations:
  • New York State Bar Association
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • New Jersey State Bar Association
  • Middlesex County Bar Association
  • California Bar Association

RATINGS & AWARDS

10.0Paul P Szeto
Paul P SzetoReviewsout of 31 reviews
Go to top