September 2026 Visa Bulletin - The Final Month of FY2026

Where things stand - latest data recap

September arrives after a brutal FY2026 endgame. The June bulletin retrogressed EB-2 India 10.5 months and EB-1 India 3.5 months, and the State Department explicitly warned that further retrogressions or 'unavailable' status are possible for EB-1 India, EB-2 India, and EB-5 India before September 30. With only one month left, every State Department decision now has outsized impact.

June baseline (Final Action Dates):

Full chain: June 2026 (live), plain English, July, August.

September predictions - the FY2026 finale

September is historically the most unpredictable month. Two opposing scenarios are both plausible. Prepare for either.

SCENARIO A - 'Use it or lose it' (State Dept pushes dates forward):

• EB-2 India: could advance 1-6 months (surprise jump)
• EB-3 ROW: could go Current
• EB-1: could advance significantly
• Rationale: 75-country freeze reduced demand, surplus numbers, advance to avoid waste

SCENARIO B - 'Demand caught up' (retrogression):

• EB-5 India: UNAVAILABLE or retrogresses 12+ months
• EB-2/EB-3 India: remain frozen or retrogress slightly
• Rationale: April filing surge plus OBBBA pressure created delayed demand

What happens on October 1 - the FY2027 reset

• Fresh 140,000 EB visa numbers allocated
• Dates may advance significantly (new year, new supply)
• Chart B may reopen for employment-based
• Per-country cap resets (7% of total)
• EB-5 set-aside categories: fresh allocations

October is often the most favorable month for applicants. Detailed outlook: October 2026 Visa Bulletin - FY2027 Predictions.

EB-5 September - the critical month

• If retrogression hasn't happened by September, it WILL now
• State Dept warning has been in bulletins since April
• Set-asides remain Current (safe harbor)
• Last chance to file I-485 before potential unavailability
• EB-5 cases filed before September 30 keep their FY2026 priority date

End-of-year filing strategy

• File I-485 before Sep 30 if your date is current - lock in FY2026 number
• Even if approval comes in FY2027, the filing date matters
• Get EAD and Advance Parole benefits immediately upon filing
• If your date is not current: prepare documents for the October reset

75-country freeze - end-of-year implications

If the freeze remains in place through September, the surplus visa numbers it created become a key driver for advances. If it lifts in September, expect retrogression as pent-up demand floods the system. Background: US Visa Freeze - 75 Countries Affected (2026).

OBBBA fee impact - 4 months in

• I-485 fees up by ~$160+ (CPI-adjusted)
• Asylum annual fee now active (3 monthly cycles complete)
• I-94 fee on every entry
• Filing data shows mixed effects: some applicants delay, others rush

Comprehensive breakdown: One Big Beautiful Bill Act 2026.

Family-sponsored predictions

• F-2A: should remain Current
• F-1/F-2B/F-3/F-4: end-of-year movement, mostly modest
• Chart B remains available for family-sponsored

What to do right now

• File I-485 if your date is current under Chart A
• EB-5 India: file TODAY if priority date is current - last chance before potential 'U'
• Prepare medical exam (I-693), police clearance, birth certificate for October opportunity
• Monitor USCIS announcement on Chart A vs B for October (typically late September)
• Evaluate alternatives: Canada Express Entry, Germany Blue Card, Australia Skilled Independent

Tools: Green Card Calculator, CRS Calculator, Germany Opportunity Card, Eligibility Checker. Reading: Canada H-1B Pathway, Best Countries to Work Abroad.

Historical tracker - FY2026 EB-2 India

For broader backlog context: Green Card Backlog Report 2026 and USCIS Processing Times 2026.