The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has officially issued the Visa Bulletin for September 2026 (Number 18, Volume XI). This publication outlines the availability of preference immigrant visas during September 2026, establishing both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications for family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa applicants.
Unless U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicates otherwise on its website (www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo), individuals seeking to file applications for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) must use the Final Action Dates charts. If USCIS determines that more immigrant visas are available than there are known applicants, it will notify applicants to use the Dates for Filing charts instead.
Statutory Annual Limits for Fiscal Year 2026
For Fiscal Year 2026, the statutory limits established under Section 201 and Section 202 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) are set as follows:
- Worldwide Family-Sponsored Preference Limit: 226,000
- Worldwide Employment-Based Preference Limit: 186,317
- Per-Country Limit: Fixed at 7% of the total annual combined limit, set at 28,862 (or 29,136 when accounting for carryover provisions under INA 203(b)(5)(B)).
- Dependent Area Limit: Set at 2%, or 8,247 (or 8,325 with carryover provisions).
Per-country limits apply heavily to oversubscribed chargeability areas: China-mainland born, India, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
Preference Classes
- First (F1): Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens (23,400 visas).
- Second (F2): Spouses, Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents (114,200 visas):
- F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents (77% of overall F2 limit).
- F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents (23% of overall F2 limit).
- Third (F3): Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens (23,400 visas).
- Fourth (F4): Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens (65,000 visas).
A. Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
(Priority dates must be earlier than the listed date below)
| Family Preference | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 22JAN22 | 22JAN22 | 22JAN22 | 01JAN08 | 01MAY13 |
| F2A | 22AUG26 | 22AUG26 | 22AUG26 | 22AUG25 | 22AUG26 |
| F2B | 22AUG19 | 22AUG19 | 22AUG19 | 15FEB09 | 01JUN13 |
| F3 | 22OCT14 | 22OCT14 | 22OCT14 | 01JUL01 | 22FEB06 |
| F4 | 22OCT11 | 22OCT11 | 01NOV06 | 08APR01 | 22AUG07 |
Note on F2A Numbers: F2A numbers EXEMPT from the per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants with priority dates earlier than 22AUG25. F2A numbers SUBJECT to the per-country limit apply to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates from 22AUG25 to 22AUG26. All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit.
B. Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications
| Family Preference | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01FEB20 | 01FEB20 | 01FEB20 | 01DEC08 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 15MAY10 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 01NOV14 | 01NOV14 | 01NOV14 | 15JUL01 | 08AUG06 |
| F4 | 01NOV11 | 01NOV11 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 22MAR08 |
Employment-Based Preference Cases
Preference Classes
- 1st (Priority Workers): 28.6% of worldwide employment level.
- 2nd (Members of Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability): 28.6% of worldwide employment level.
- 3rd (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers): 28.6% of worldwide employment level (max 10,000 to “Other Workers”, reduced to 5,000 annually under NACARA offsets; for FY 2026, the reduction is limited to 116).
- 4th (Certain Special Immigrants): 7.1% of worldwide employment level.
- 5th (Employment Creation): 7.1% of worldwide level (32% reserved: 20% Rural, 10% High Unemployment, 2% Infrastructure; 68% Unreserved).
A. Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
(“C” = Current; “U” = Unauthorized / Unavailable)
| Employment-Based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01JUL23 | 15OCT22 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01SEP21 | U | C | C |
| 3rd | 01SEP24 | 01JAN22 | 01JAN14 | 01SEP24 | 01AUG23 |
| Other Workers | 01APR22 | 01MAY19 | 01JAN14 | 01APR22 | 01DEC21 |
| 4th | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 | 15DEC22 |
| 5th Unreserved (C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU) | C | 01DEC16 | U | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
B. Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
| Employment-Based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01DEC23 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | C |
| 3rd | C | 08JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | 01JAN24 |
| Other Workers | 01AUG22 | 01OCT19 | 15JAN15 | 01AUG22 | 01AUG22 |
| 4th / Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| 5th Unreserved (C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 01MAR17 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| 5th Set Asides (Rural, High Unemp., Infra.) | C | C | C | C | C |
Critical Department of State Notices & Category Updates
1. Special Warning on EB-1 India
High demand and number use by applicants chargeable to India in the EB-1 visa category may necessitate making this category Unavailable (U) in the coming weeks if India’s prorated limit is reached before the fiscal year ends.
2. Warning on EB-2 Category
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 (U) before the end of the fiscal year to hold usage within the FY 2026 annual limit.
3. Warning on EB-5 Unreserved Category
Increased number use in the EB-5 Unreserved category may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or render the category Unavailable (U) prior to the end of the fiscal year.
4. Overall Visa Availability and Potential Retrogression
The Department of State notes that visa issuance rates have advanced in recent months to ensure full usage of available numbers for FY 2026. However, as additional visa demand materializes, retrogression or “Unavailable” status may be required across categories before the fiscal year concludes.
Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Category for September 2026
The annual limit for DV-2026 is approximately 52,101 visas (after reductions under NACARA and Section 5104 of the NDAA for FY2024). Entitlement to status under the DV-2026 category ends strictly on September 30, 2026. DV visas cannot be issued to principal applicants or derivative family members after that date.
Regional Allocation Cutoff Numbers for September:
- AFRICA: 101,250 (Except Algeria: 85,000; Egypt: 50,000)
- ASIA: 40,000 (Except Nepal: 13,500)
- EUROPE: 47,500
- NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS): Current
- OCEANIA: 3,000
- SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN: 4,750
Statutory Determination of Numerical Limits
Calculations for annual limits were officially finalized following USCIS providing required data to the Visa Office on July 24th.
U.S. Government Employee Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2024 affects certain current/former employees of the U.S. government abroad applying under INA 101(a)(27)(D). This does not affect certain Iraqi and Afghan applicants applying for SQ and SI SIVs. Applicants should contact the consular section where their Form DS-1884 was filed.
Consult with Miranda & Maldonado, P.C.
If your priority date is current or approaching under the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, taking immediate legal action is vital before dates retrogress or categories become unavailable.
Contact the experienced immigration legal team at Miranda & Maldonado, P.C. to evaluate your eligibility and assist with your Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing application.