September 2026 Visa Bulletin: sharp family advances, and F2A is current for filing
Some lines moved more than two years in a single month, and the bulletin itself warns the window may close before September 30. If your category became current, reaction time matters.
The Department of State has published the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, and the movement in the family-sponsored categories is unusual. Some lines moved more than two years in a single month. Employment-based categories were essentially flat.
September is the final month of fiscal year 2026, which ends September 30.
First: which chart applies to you
The bulletin carries two charts per category, and using the wrong one means a missed or wasted window. For September 2026, USCIS determined:
- Family-sponsored (F1 through F4): use the “Dates for Filing” chart to file adjustment of status (I-485) in the U.S.
- Employment-based (EB-1 through EB-5): use the “Final Action Dates” chart to file the I-485.
- Consular applicants working through the National Visa Center follow Final Action Dates for final issuance and Dates for Filing to begin assembling documents.
The biggest news for families: F2A is current for filing
On the Dates for Filing chart, F2A — spouses and minor children of permanent residents — is listed “C” (current) for every country.
In practice: if you are the spouse or minor child of a green card holder with an I-130 on file, you can file the I-485 now, regardless of your priority date. Filing the I-485 is what opens the door to the work permit (EAD) and advance parole.
On the Final Action Dates chart, F2A sits at August 22, 2026 for Brazil, which is effectively current as well.
Dates for Brazil — family-sponsored
| Category | Dates for Filing (I-485) | Final Action Date (approval) |
|---|---|---|
| F1 — unmarried adult children of citizens | 02/01/2020 | 01/22/2020 |
| F2A — spouse and minor children of LPRs | C (current) | 08/22/2026 |
| F2B — unmarried adult children of LPRs | 09/01/2019 | 08/22/2019 |
| F3 — married children of citizens | 11/01/2014 | 10/22/2014 |
| F4 — siblings of citizens | 11/01/2011 | 10/22/2011 |
How far the lines moved this month (Final Action Dates):
- F1: roughly 13 months forward.
- F2A: one month forward.
- F2B: nearly 20 months forward.
- F3: approximately 29 months forward.
- F4: more than two years forward.
For anyone who has waited a decade, a 29-month jump in one bulletin is rare.
Dates for Brazil — employment-based
Much quieter here. Final Action Dates, which is the governing chart for I-485 filings in September:
| Category | Date — Brazil |
|---|---|
| EB-1 | C (current) |
| EB-2 | C (current) |
| EB-3 | 09/01/2024 |
| Other Workers | 04/01/2022 |
| EB-4 and Religious Workers | 12/15/2022 |
| EB-5 unreserved | C (current) |
| EB-5 set-asides (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) | C (current) |
EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5 current for Brazil is a real window, and the bulletin itself warns it may close (see below).
Diversity Visa (DV-2026)
For September, the South America and Caribbean region has a cutoff number of 4,750. Visas are available only to applicants with regional rank numbers below that figure.
DV-2026 entitlement ends September 30, 2026, for the selectee and for spouse and children. No visas issue after that date, and the bulletin warns numbers could be exhausted before the 30th.
Why dates moved so far
The bulletin explains it directly: immigrant visa issuance dropped in FY 2026, partly because of policies in place since January 2025 and because some posts operated on a limited or suspended basis. With fewer visas being issued, the Department advanced dates so the available FY 2026 numbers could be used before the year closes.
The year's limits: 226,000 family-sponsored and 186,317 employment-based, with a per-country limit of 28,862 (29,136 including EB-5 carryover).
The warning inside the bulletin
The Department of State states plainly that retrogression may become necessary in the coming weeks as demand materializes, and that categories may go “Unavailable” before September 30 if limits are reached. It flags that risk specifically for EB-1 India, EB-2, and EB-5 unreserved.
There is also a familiar dynamic: a large advance triggers a surge of filings, and that surge is exactly what forces the next retrogression. The September window is real, but it may be short.
What to do now
- Find your priority date on your petition approval notice (I-130 or I-140).
- Compare it to the correct chart: family on Dates for Filing, employment on Final Action Dates.
- If you are current, file. Do not wait to see what October brings.
- If your I-485 is already pending, confirm there is no outstanding RFE and that your medical exam is valid and complete. A case with open items will not be approved even when a visa is available.
- If you are processing consularly, respond quickly to NVC and consular document and interview requests.
- Keep your address current with USCIS (Form AR-11, within 10 days).
If your category became current, reaction time matters
We can confirm your priority date, identify the governing chart, and prepare your filing inside the window.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. The dates cited are from the September 2026 Visa Bulletin and change monthly.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does it mean that F2A is “current” for filing?
- On September's Dates for Filing chart, F2A (spouses and minor children of permanent residents) is listed “C” for every country. With an I-130 on file, you can file the I-485 now regardless of your priority date — which also opens the door to the EAD and advance parole.
- Which chart applies to my case in September 2026?
- USCIS determined: family-sponsored categories (F1 through F4) use Dates for Filing to file the I-485 in the U.S.; employment-based categories (EB-1 through EB-5) use Final Action Dates. Consular cases follow Final Action Dates for final issuance.
- Can the September window close before the 30th?
- Yes. The bulletin itself warns retrogression may become necessary in the coming weeks and that categories may go “Unavailable” before September 30 if limits are reached, flagging EB-1 India, EB-2, and EB-5 unreserved specifically.