September 2026 Visa Bulletin: Family-Based Green Card Dates Released

September 2026 Visa Bulletin: Family-Based Green Card Dates Released

Short answer: the official September 2026 Visa Bulletin is now out, and USCIS says family-sponsored applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart in September 2026. On that chart, F2A remains current, while F1, F2B, F3, and F4 remain backlogged and still require category-by-category and country-by-country review.

That September update matters most to:

• spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders in F2A, because the Dates for Filing chart remains current,
• adult children and siblings in F1, F2B, F3, and F4, because the filing cutoffs are still limited by category and chargeability area, and
• families making end-of-fiscal-year filing decisions, because September is the last month of FY 2026 and the State Department warns that categories can still become unavailable if annual limits are reached.

If you need the broader framework first, our IR-1 spouse visa page, IR-2 child visa page, F2A category page, and I-130 processing guide may help.

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For September 2026 family-sponsored adjustment filings, USCIS says applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart.

On that chart, the key family-based filing cutoffs are:

The practical takeaway is straightforward: F2A remains open for filing, while the other family-preference categories still require exact priority-date review.

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September is not just another monthly bulletin. It is the last month of the federal fiscal year, and the Department of State says categories may still become unavailable before September 30, 2026 if annual or per-country limits are reached.

That means families should be careful about assuming that:

• a category will stay open for the entire month,
• a prediction page from an earlier date still controls,
• or a case is ready to file just because the chart is favorable.

If your case is time-sensitive because of a status expiration, an age-out concern, or a filing package that still needs sponsor and civil documents, September usually calls for quicker but still careful review.

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If you are waiting for an immigrant visa interview abroad or trying to understand when a case can actually be finally approved, the Final Action Dates chart still matters.

For September 2026, the family-based final action cutoffs are:

For many families inside the United States, the Dates for Filing chart is the immediate question in September. But for families tracking approval timing or consular movement, the final-action chart still deserves close attention.

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If you are a green card holder sponsoring a spouse or unmarried child under 21, the most helpful news is that F2A is current on the September 2026 Dates for Filing chart.

That does not mean every F2A applicant can file automatically. The applicant still needs to be otherwise eligible to adjust status in the United States, and some cases may still raise issues involving lawful entry, status history, travel, or inadmissibility.

It is also important not to confuse the filing chart with the final-action chart. In September 2026, F2A is current for filing, but the Final Action Dates chart is not fully current.

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If you are in F1, F2B, F3, or F4

Compare your priority date against the correct September 2026 chart for your category and chargeability area before taking the next filing step.

If your date is close

Use September to organize the parts of the case that often create avoidable delay:

• civil documents,
• birth and marriage records,
• Form I-864 financial-sponsorship materials,
• tax transcripts and income evidence,
• and any age-out or derivative-beneficiary questions.

If you are outside the United States

The same bulletin still matters because it affects when a case can move through the National Visa Center and toward interview scheduling, even though the next step may not be an I-485 filing.

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This official September 2026 development is most closely related to:

• IR-1 spouse visa representation
• IR-2 child visa representation
• F2A family-based immigration guidance
• F2B category guidance
• F3 category guidance
• F4 category guidance
• I-130 processing time guide
• NVC documentarily qualified guide
• CSPA age-out protection guide

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1. USCIS — Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
2. USCIS — When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: September 2026
3. U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin for September 2026

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FAQ

Does USCIS allow family-sponsored applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart in September 2026?

Yes. USCIS says family-sponsored applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart in September 2026.

Is F2A current for September 2026?

For September 2026 filing purposes, F2A is current on the Dates for Filing chart.

Do Final Action Dates still matter if I am waiting for approval or an interview?

Yes. The Final Action Dates chart still matters for final immigrant-visa issuance and final approval timing, even if USCIS allows the filing chart to be used for adjustment filings inside the United States.

Could the chart change again before the fiscal year ends?

The Department of State says categories can become unavailable if annual or per-country limits are reached before the end of the fiscal year. That is one reason September requires extra care.

Does a current filing chart mean my case will be approved quickly?

No. A favorable filing chart does not guarantee a fast approval. Eligibility, documentation, background review, and case-specific facts still matter.

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Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is not a substitute for advice based on your specific facts.