September 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Dates Hold Steady Amid Retrogression Warning

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, showing that cutoff dates across employment-based and family-based preference categories remain largely unchanged from August 2026. There is no forward movement or retrogression this month, offering temporary stability for applicants monitoring their priority dates. For EB-3 skilled workers and professionals, India's final action date holds at January 1, 2014, and China's remains at January 1, 2022. All other countries of chargeability stay at September 1, 2024, while the Philippines remains at August 1, 2023. In the EB-3 Other Workers subcategory, India sits at January 1, 2014, China at May 1, 2019, the Philippines at December 1, 2021, and all other countries at April 1, 2022. In higher preference categories, EB-1 remains current for most countries, though India (October 15, 2022) and China (July 1, 2023) face cutoff dates. EB-2 India is listed as "unavailable" — meaning no filings or approvals are possible for India this month — while China's cutoff holds at September 1, 2021. A critical warning from the DOS: retrogression or category unavailability may be necessary in the coming months to keep visa issuances within annual limits. The agency notes that reduced immigrant visa issuance rates — tied to recent administration actions on national security and public interest — prompted advances in filing and final action dates earlier in FY2026. As demand materializes or policies shift, those advances may be reversed. EB-3 applicants with upcoming filing windows or pending cases should file immediately when eligible and prepare contingency plans in the event of unexpected retrogression before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026. USCIS has not yet confirmed which charts adjustment-of-status applicants may use for September; applicants should verify on the USCIS website before filing.