US visa bulletin September 2026: What Indian Green Card applicants need to know about EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, family visas

The September 2026 US Visa Bulletin presents a mixed outlook for Indian green card applicants. In the employment-based categories, EB-1 for Indians remains backlogged with a final action date of October 15, 2022. However, the filing dates are more accommodating, with a deadline of December 1, 2023. The State Department has cautioned about potential unavailability if visa usage exceeds India's yearly allocation before the fiscal year ends.

EB-2, which covers professionals with advanced degrees and individuals of exceptional ability, is currently unavailable for final action. The September Final Action Date is marked as “U,” and the Dates for Filing chart lists a cut-off date of January 15, 2015. Due to high demand, further retrogression or unavailability before the fiscal year could occur.

For EB-3 skilled workers and professionals, India's September Final Action Date is January 1, 2014, with the filing date of January 15, 2015. Both dates mean applicants with earlier priority dates have a better chance of approval.

In the EB-5 category for Indians, all unreserved cases are currently unavailable, with a September Final Action Date marked as “U.” However, the filing dates under the Dates for Filing chart are May 1, 2024, for India and other eligible countries.

Family-sponsored categories also face significant backlogs for Indian applicants. For fiscal 2026, the worldwide family-sponsored preference limit is 226,000, while the employment-based limit is 186,317. The per-country limit is 28,862, with potential increase due to carryover provisions. The F2A category, covering spouses and children of permanent residents, has current filing dates for all countries, including India, on the Dates for Filing chart. DV-2026 lottery winners have until September 30, 2026, to obtain a diversity visa.