QueueCheckofficial waits, shared datesWritten and checked by the QueueCheck editorial team. Last checked August 29, 2026. How we verify information
QueueCheck verified the September 2026 Visa Bulletin transcription on August 29, 2026. USCIS's filing-chart selection was checked separately on August 29, 2026.
USCIS selected Dates for Filing for family-sponsored adjustment filings and Final Action Dates for employment-based filings.
EB-1 India's Final Action Date is 15OCT22, compared with 15OCT22 in August 2026.
EB-2 India's Final Action Date is Unavailable, compared with Unavailable in August 2026.
EB-3 India's Final Action Date is 01JAN14, compared with 01JAN14 in August 2026.
In September 2026, family-sponsored dates moved broadly forward, while most employment-based dates stayed where August 2026 left them. No Final Action cut-off moved backward.
Release analysis
Read the family and employment changes as a focused news story, with the headline, comparisons and filing status generated from the same verified tables shown on this page.
Read the September 2026 Visa Bulletin movement analysisA visa number can be authorized only when the priority date is earlier than the cut-off for the category and chargeability area.
| Category | All other chargeability areas | China (mainland born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1: unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens | 22JAN20 | 22JAN20 | 22JAN20 | 01JAN08 | 01MAY13 |
| F2A: spouses and children of permanent residents | 22AUG26 | 22AUG26 | 22AUG26 | 22AUG25 | 22AUG26 |
| F2B: unmarried adult children of permanent residents | 22AUG19 | 22AUG19 | 22AUG19 | 15FEB09 | 01JUN13 |
| F3: married children of U.S. citizens | 22OCT14 | 22OCT14 | 22OCT14 | 01JUL01 | 22FEB06 |
| F4: siblings of adult U.S. citizens | 22OCT11 | 22OCT11 | 01NOV06 | 08APR01 | 22AUG07 |
| Category | All other chargeability areas | China (mainland born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1: priority workers | C | 01JUL23 | 15OCT22 | C | C |
| EB-2: advanced degrees and exceptional ability | C | 01SEP21 | U | C | C |
| EB-3: skilled workers and professionals | 01SEP24 | 01JAN22 | 01JAN14 | 01SEP24 | 01AUG23 |
| EB-3: other workers | 01APR22 | 01MAY19 | 01JAN14 | 01APR22 | 01DEC21 |
| EB-4: special immigrants | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| EB-4: certain religious workers | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| EB-5: unreserved investor visas | C | 01DEC16 | U | C | C |
| EB-5 set-aside: rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 set-aside: high unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 set-aside: infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
These dates control document submission and adjustment filing only when USCIS designates this chart for the relevant preference type.
| Category | All other chargeability areas | China (mainland born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1: unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens | 01FEB20 | 01FEB20 | 01FEB20 | 01DEC08 | 22APR15 |
| F2A: spouses and children of permanent residents | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B: unmarried adult children of permanent residents | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 15MAY10 | 01OCT13 |
| F3: married children of U.S. citizens | 01NOV14 | 01NOV14 | 01NOV14 | 15JUL01 | 08AUG06 |
| F4: siblings of adult U.S. citizens | 01NOV11 | 01NOV11 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 22MAR08 |
| Category | All other chargeability areas | China (mainland born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1: priority workers | C | 01DEC23 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| EB-2: advanced degrees and exceptional ability | C | 01JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | C |
| EB-3: skilled workers and professionals | C | 08JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | 01JAN24 |
| EB-3: other workers | 01AUG22 | 01OCT19 | 15JAN15 | 01AUG22 | 01AUG22 |
| EB-4: special immigrants | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| EB-4: certain religious workers | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| EB-5: unreserved investor visas | C | 01MAR17 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| EB-5 set-aside: rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 set-aside: high unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 set-aside: infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Unchanged rows are omitted. Matching country movements are grouped so advances, retrogressions, Current and Unavailable changes remain easy to scan.
These are regional lottery rank numbers, not dates. A selectee can be processed when their rank number is below the cut-off shown for their region, which is the reverse of how the preference charts above work. Where a country is listed separately, its lower number replaces the regional one for applicants charged to it.
| Region | Rank cut-off | Countries listed separately |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | 101,250 | Algeria 85,000, Egypt 50,000 |
| Asia | 40,000 | Nepal 13,500 |
| Europe | 47,500 | None |
| North America (Bahamas) | Current | None |
| Oceania | 3,000 | None |
| South America and the Caribbean | 4,750 | None |
Quoted from the published document, with the Department's own section letters. Nothing here is paraphrased or shortened.
For September, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 22AUG25. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO, with priority dates beginning 22AUG25 and earlier than 22AUG26. All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit.
Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2026 program ends as of September 30, 2026. DVs may not be issued to DV-2026 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2026 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2026. DV availability through the end of FY-2026 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.
Immigrant visa issuance rates have decreased in FY 2026, in part due to the policies the President has put in place since January 2025 to protect national security and the integrity of our immigration process, as well as the impact of posts that have faced limited or suspended visa operations in response to global events. Consequently, to make visas available in accordance with sections 201-203 of the INA to sufficient prospective immigrants to use immigrant visa numbers that are available in FY 2026, dates for filing and final action dates have been advanced across various immigrant visa categories throughout recent months. Note that as additional immigrant visa demand materializes, or administration actions are amended, retrogression may become necessary in the coming weeks to keep issuances within annual limits. Visa categories may become “Unavailable” prior to the end of the fiscal year if annual limits, category limits, or pro-rated per-country limits are reached. This situation is being continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.
The Department of State has determined the Family and Employment preference numerical limits for FY-2026 in accordance with the terms of Section 201 of the INA. These numerical limitations for FY-2026 are as follows: Worldwide Family-Sponsored preference limit: 226,000. Worldwide Employment-Based preference limit: 186,317. Under INA Section 202(a)(2), the per-country limit is fixed at 7% of the combined total family and employment annual limits. For FY-2026 the per-country limit is therefore 28,862. The dependent area annual limit is 2%, or 8,247. Note that these figures do not account for carryover provisions in accordance with INA 203(b)(5)(B). With these carryover visa numbers included, the per-country limit is 29,136 and the dependent area limit is 8,325.
High demand and number use by aliens chargeable to India in the EB-1 visa category may necessitate making the category unavailable in the coming weeks if India’s pro-rated limit in the EB-1 category is reached before the fiscal year ends. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.
Sufficient demand and increased number use in the EB-2 visa category may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category unavailable before the end of the fiscal year to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.
Sufficient demand and number use in the EB-5 unreserved visa category may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category unavailable before the end of the fiscal year to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.
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