Visa Bulletin September 2026 F3 F4 Surge: Indian Family Green Card Dates Advance

The US Department of State released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin on August 10, revealing significant forward movement in family-sponsored green card categories for Indian applicants. The F1 category advanced to January 22, 2020 (from December 15, 2018), F2B moved to August 22, 2019 (from January 1, 2018), and the F3 category made a notable leap to October 22, 2014 (from May 15, 2012). F2A remains current with no priority date cutoff, while F4 remains stalled at November 1, 2006. For employment-based applicants, the bulletin offers little relief. EB-3 remains at January 1, 2014, EB-1 holds at October 15, 2022, and EB-2 is listed as 'unavailable' (U) for India. The only employment-based movement is in EB-4, which advanced slightly to December 15, 2022. Filing dates for EB-2 and EB-3 remain unchanged at January 15, 2015. The State Department cautioned that the date advances were partly driven by lower visa issuance rates from certain countries this fiscal year, and that retrogression could be required if demand rises. Indian EB-1 applicants have been specifically warned that high demand could render that category unavailable before fiscal year end — a similar warning applies to EB-2 and unreserved EB-5. For EB-3 applicants tracking their cases, the September bulletin signals continued stagnation in employment-based categories for India. With EB-2 already unavailable and EB-3 showing no movement, Indian professionals face an unchanged queue position this month. Applicants should monitor USCIS guidance on which Dates for Filing chart may be used each month before submitting adjustment-of-status documents.