September marks the end of the federal fiscal year, and this month’s Visa Bulletin is a reflection of that.

Most employment-based categories are holding steady with no movement in either direction. Family-sponsored categories, on the other hand, saw some of the strongest advancement we have seen in months.

There is also a warning worth paying attention to before September 30.

At Garvish Immigration Law Group, we break this down every month so you know exactly where you stand.

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin has two charts that matter:

Final Action Dates (Chart A): the date your green card can actually be approved. Your priority date must be earlier than the listed date for your case to move forward.

Dates for Filing (Chart B): the date you are allowed to file for Adjustment of Status, even if a green card number is not yet available.

Which Chart Applies in September

  • Employment-based applicants: use the Final Action Dates chart
  • Family-sponsored applicants: use the Dates for Filing chart

Always confirm on the USCIS website before you file, since chart designations can shift.

A Quiet Month for Employment-Based Categories

EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and EB-5 final action dates are unchanged from August across every chargeability area.

The single exception was EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers, which moved forward for all countries. That was the only employment-based movement in the entire bulletin.

EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India remain unavailable for the rest of the fiscal year, as the State Department signaled back in July.

The Warning You Don’t Want to Skip

The State Department has flagged that additional categories may retrogress or become unavailable before the fiscal year closes on September 30, 2026.

Specifically at risk:

  • EB-1 India, which may become unavailable in the coming weeks due to high demand
  • EB-2 and the EB-5 unreserved categories, which could retrogress or close as visa number usage continues

The important context: any category that becomes unavailable in September should become available again when the new fiscal year begins on October 1.

If your priority date is current right now and you are eligible to file, do not wait. A window that is open today may not be open in two weeks.

Final Action Dates

Employment-Based Green Cards

  • EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Managers)
    • China & India: No Movement
    • All other countries: Current 
  • EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals, National Interest Waivers)
    • China: No Movement
    • India: Unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year
    • All other countries: Current 
  • EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals)
    • All Countries: No Movement 
  • EB-3 (Other Workers)
    • All Countries: No Movement 
  • EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants)
    • All countries: Advances 2 months to December 15, 2022 
  • EB-4 (Certain Religious Workers)
    • All countries: Advances 2 months to December 15, 2022 
  • EB-5 (Set-Aside Categories: Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure)
    • All countries: Current 
  • EB-5 (Unreserved)
    • China: No Movement
    • India: Unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year
    • All other countries: Current

Family-Sponsored Green Cards

  • F-1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. Citizens)
    • Philippines: No Movement
    • Mexico: Advances 1 month to January 1, 2008
    • All Others (including China and India): Advances 38 days to January 22, 2020 
  • F-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents)
    • Mexico: Advances 1 month to August 22, 2025
    • All other countries: Advance 1 month to August 22, 2026 
  • F-2B (Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Permanent Residents)
    • Philippines & Mexico: No Movement
    • All Other Countries (including China and India): Advance over 1 year and a half to August 22, 2019 
  • F-3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines & Mexico: No Movement
    • All Others (including China and India): Advances over 1 year and 5 months to October 22, 2014 
  • F-4 (Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines: Advances 21 days to August 22, 2007
    • India and Mexico: No Movement
    • All Others (including China): Advances over 2 years to October 22, 2011

Dates for Filing

Employment-Based Green Cards

The employment-based Dates for Filing chart is unchanged this month. Per USCIS guidance, employment-based applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart for September filings.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards

  • F-1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. Citizens)
    • Philippines & Mexico: No Movement
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance 7 and a half months to 01February 1, 2020 
  • F-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents)
    • All countries: Current 
  • F-2B (Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Permanent Residents)
    • Philippines & Mexico: No Movement
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance 8 months to September 1, 2019 
  • F-3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines & Mexico: No Movement
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance 1 year and 8 months to 01November 1, 2014 
  • F-4 (Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens)
    • Philippines, India and Mexico: No Movement
    • All Others (including China): Over 1 year and 4 months to Novemeber 1, 2011

Our Guidance to You

If you are employment-based and currently eligible to file, file now. This is the last month of the fiscal year and the State Department has been clear that categories can close with little warning.

If you are an Indian national in EB-2, October is your reset point. The category should reopen when the new fiscal year begins. This is a good moment to review with your attorney whether an EB-3 filing or interfiling strategy makes sense for you.

If you are family-sponsored, check your priority date carefully. F-3 and F-4 saw substantial forward movement this month, and you may be closer to filing than you realize.

A quiet month is not a bad month. Steady dates mean the categories are still available, which was not the case at this point last year.

Stay Connected

We monitor the Visa Bulletin every month and proactively advise our clients on what it means for their case. If you have questions about September or want to plan ahead for the new fiscal year, Garvish Immigration Law Group is here.

Reach out to us today.