September 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Priority Dates Ahead of October 2026 Executive Orders

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin, analyzed by International Legal and Business Services Group, provides the latest priority date cutoffs for employment-based immigrant visa categories including EB-3. The bulletin is a critical monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State that determines which applicants may move forward with their green card applications based on their country of chargeability and priority date. For EB-3 applicants, the bulletin's Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts dictate whether USCIS will accept adjustment of status applications or whether a visa number is immediately available. Movement — or retrogression — in these dates can significantly affect an applicant's timeline, particularly for nationals of high-demand countries such as India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines. With the new fiscal year (FY2027) approaching in October 2026, visa number availability is expected to reset. Applicants and practitioners are advised to monitor both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts closely, as USCIS may alternate between the two depending on demand projections from the Department of State. The analysis from International Legal and Business Services Group highlights implications for applicants currently in the EB-3 queue, including those who may be affected by recent executive orders and policy shifts impacting employment-based immigration processing in 2026. Applicants are encouraged to consult with qualified immigration counsel to assess their specific priority dates and eligibility windows before the FY2027 fiscal year cutoff.