The US Department of State’s September 2026 Visa Bulletin sets out the latest cut-off dates for Indian applicants across family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa categories. The bulletin also warns that some employment-based categories could retrogress or become unavailable before the end of the fiscal year as demand rises.
For Indians, the biggest developments are in the employment-based categories. EB-1 India has a final action date of October 15, 2022, while EB-2 India is listed as unavailable. EB-3 India has a final action date of January 1, 2014.
The bulletin also provides separate dates for filing applications, which are different from the dates when immigrant visas or green cards can receive final approval.
Here is what Indian applicants should know.
What are the September 2026 final action dates for Indians?
For employment-based applicants from India, the September bulletin lists the following final action dates:
EB-1 India: October 15, 2022.
EB-2 India: Unavailable.
EB-3 India: January 1, 2014.
EB-3 Other Workers: January 1, 2014.
EB-4 India: December 15, 2022.
{{/usCountry}}EB-4 India: December 15, 2022.
{{/usCountry}}Certain Religious Workers: December 15, 2022.
EB-5 India, unreserved: Unavailable.
For EB-5 set-aside categories, including the rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure categories, India is listed as current.
A final action date means the applicant's priority date must be earlier than the date listed for the relevant category for a visa number to be authorized.
India faces another warning for EB-1
Indian applicants in the EB-1 category have a final action date of October 15, 2022.
The State Department specifically warns that high demand and visa number use by applicants chargeable to India could require the EB-1 India category to become unavailable in the coming weeks if the country's pro-rated limit is reached before the fiscal year ends.
The department says it will continue monitoring the situation and make adjustments if necessary.
EB-2 unavailable in September
EB-2 India is listed as U in the September final action chart, meaning immigrant visa numbers are not authorized for the category.
The State Department also warns that sufficient demand and increased number use in EB-2 could require the category to retrogress or become unavailable before the end of fiscal year 2026.
This is a key development for Indian professionals with EB-2 cases because the September bulletin does not provide a final action date for EB-2 India.
India remains at January 2014 for EB-3
The EB-3 India final action date is January 1, 2014.
This applies to the skilled workers, professionals and other workers categories under the employment-based third preference, with the bulletin separately listing the Other Workers category at the same January 1, 2014 date for India.
Applicants whose priority dates are not earlier than the applicable cut-off cannot receive an immigrant visa number under the September final action chart.
What are the employment-based filing dates for Indians?
The September bulletin separately lists dates for filing employment-based visa applications.
For India, the dates are:
EB-1: December 1, 2023.
EB-2: January 15, 2015.
EB-3: January 15, 2015.
EB-3 Other Workers: January 15, 2015.
EB-4: January 1, 2023.
Certain Religious Workers: January 1, 2023.
EB-5 unreserved: May 1, 2024.
EB-5 rural set-aside: Current.
EB-5 high-unemployment set-aside: Current.
EB-5 infrastructure set-aside: Current.
The State Department says applicants with a priority date earlier than the applicable filing date may assemble and submit the required documents to the National Visa Center after receiving notification from the NVC.
For applicants seeking adjustment of status inside the United States, the bulletin says they should check USCIS to determine whether the filing-date chart can be used instead of the final-action chart for that month.
What about family-sponsored visas for Indians?
The September bulletin also provides cut-off dates for Indian applicants in family-sponsored categories.
For final action, the dates are:
F1 — unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens: January 22, 2020.
F2A — spouses and children of permanent residents: August 22, 2026.
F2B — unmarried sons and daughters, 21 or older, of permanent residents: August 22, 2019.
F3 — married sons and daughters of US citizens: October 22, 2014.
F4 — brothers and sisters of adult US citizens: November 1, 2006.
For family-sponsored filing dates, India is listed at:
F1: February 1, 2020.
F2A: Current.
F2B: September 1, 2019.
F3: November 1, 2014.
F4: December 15, 2006.
The State Department defines “C” as current, meaning applicants in that category may file regardless of priority date, subject to the applicable rules.
Why can these dates change?
The State Department says immigrant visa numbers have been advanced across various categories in recent months because visa issuance rates from certain countries have decreased following various administration actions.
But the department cautions that the movement may not continue.
As additional demand emerges, or administration actions change, retrogression may be necessary to keep visa issuances within annual limits. Categories can also become unavailable before the end of the fiscal year if annual, category or per-country limits are reached.
That warning is particularly relevant to Indian applicants in employment-based categories, where the September bulletin specifically flags EB-1, EB-2 and EB-5 unreserved categories.
What does the September bulletin mean for Indian green card applicants?
The September bulletin does not give one single date for all Indian green card cases. The applicable cut-off depends on the applicant's category and priority date.
For employment-based applicants, EB-2 India is unavailable, while EB-1 India is at October 15, 2022, and EB-3 India is at January 1, 2014, under the final action chart.
At the same time, the filing dates are further ahead in several categories, including December 1, 2023 for EB-1 India and January 15, 2015 for EB-2 and EB-3 India.
The State Department's September bulletin is therefore particularly important for Indian applicants tracking whether their priority dates have become eligible for filing or final action.