The U.S. Department of State’s September 2026 Visa Bulletin has brought significant movement for family-sponsored green card applicants, along with new procedural changes affecting both family- and employment-based cases as the government heads into the final month of fiscal year 2026.
What Happened?
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin, which determines when green card applicants can move forward with their cases, shows notable forward movement in several family-based categories. For most countries, the F-1 category advanced by about 7.5 months, F-2B by roughly eight months, F-3 by about 20 months, and F-4 by more than 16 months. The F-2A category, covering spouses and children of lawful permanent residents, moved from a final action date of July 22, 2026, to August 22, 2026.
Latest Update
Because September is the final month of fiscal year 2026, the State Department has warned that several employment-based categories — particularly EB-1 India, EB-2, and unreserved EB-5 — could face further restrictions or become temporarily unavailable before September 30 if their annual visa limits are reached. Applicants adjusting status within the U.S. must use the “Dates for Filing” chart for family-based categories and the “Final Action Dates” chart for employment-based categories this month. Separately, USCIS is set to issue revised Forms I-765 and I-539 on September 15, 2026, and a revised Form I-485 on September 18, tied to new nonimmigrant admission rules and a new public charge final rule.
Why Is Green Card News Trending?
Green card news is trending due to the unusually large forward movement in family-based categories this month — in some cases advancing more than two years compared to August — combined with a cluster of procedural changes (new forms, fee proposals, and rule changes) all converging around the same period.
Key Details
- F-1 category: Advances about 7.5 months for most countries
- F-2B category: Advances about 8 months
- F-3 category: Advances about 20 months
- F-4 category: Advances more than 16 months
- F-2A category: Moves from July 22, 2026 to August 22, 2026 (final action date)
- At-risk employment categories: EB-1 India, EB-2, unreserved EB-5 could face restrictions before September 30
- New forms: Revised I-765/I-539 (September 15) and I-485 (September 18)
- Proposed H-1B fee: A proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject H-1B petitions is under review, with exemptions floated for universities, hospitals, and research institutions
How the Visa Bulletin Works
The Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the State Department and determines which family-sponsored and employment-based green card applicants can move forward in their cases, based on their category, country of birth, and priority date (the date their petition was originally filed). Because green card numbers are capped annually by category and country, applicants must wait until their priority date becomes “current” before they can apply for the final step in the process. The government noted that reduced immigrant visa issuance to citizens of certain countries in recent months — tied to national security and migration processing measures — contributed to unusually large date movements this cycle, as the state department seeks to fully use available visa numbers before the fiscal year resets.
What Happens Next?
The fiscal year 2026 visa allocation resets on September 30, 2026, at which point annual limits refresh for fiscal year 2027. Applicants should watch for the October 2026 Visa Bulletin to see how categories are reset, and pay attention to the new USCIS form editions taking effect mid-September, which will result in rejection of older form versions filed after their effective dates.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal or immigration advice. Applicants should consult an immigration attorney or refer to official USCIS/State Department guidance for their specific case.
FAQs
Q: What is the Visa Bulletin?
A monthly State Department publication that shows which green card applicants, by category and country, can move forward with their applications based on visa availability.
Q: Why did family-based categories move so much in September 2026?
The State Department attributed the unusually large movement partly to reduced immigrant visa issuance to citizens of certain countries in recent months, prompting it to advance dates to use available visa numbers before the fiscal year ends.
Q: Are employment-based green card categories at risk this month?
Yes, the State Department warned that EB-1 India, EB-2, and unreserved EB-5 could face further restrictions or become temporarily unavailable before September 30, 2026.
Q: What new USCIS forms are coming in September 2026?
Revised Forms I-765 and I-539 take effect September 15, and a revised Form I-485 takes effect September 18, tied to new admission and public charge rules.
Q: Is there a proposed new H-1B fee?
Yes, a proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject H-1B petitions has been sent for review, though it has not been finalized as of this writing.
