September 2026 Visa Bulletin: Major Priority Date Movement Brings Green Card Relief for Indians

The U.S. Department of State has released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, bringing welcome news for Indian nationals caught in lengthy green card backlogs. Family-based visa preference categories recorded major gains in priority date advancement, a development that could allow thousands of Indian applicants to move closer to filing or receiving their immigrant visas. For EB-3 employment-based applicants, the bulletin is particularly significant as priority date movement in family categories often signals broader relief across all preference categories. Indian nationals in the EB-3 skilled worker and professional categories have historically faced some of the longest wait times globally, making any forward movement in the bulletin a meaningful milestone. The September 2026 movement continues a trend seen in recent months where the State Department has worked to reduce the number of unused visa numbers by pushing priority dates forward more aggressively. Applicants whose priority dates are now current may be eligible to file adjustment of status applications or proceed with consular processing. EB-3 applicants and their attorneys are advised to verify their specific priority dates against the September 2026 Visa Bulletin and consult the USCIS website to determine whether to use the "Dates for Filing" or "Final Action Dates" chart. Those with approved I-140 petitions should act promptly to prepare required documentation in case their dates become current.