The September 2026 Visa Bulletin contains substantial forward movement in nearly every family-sponsored preference category. The Department of State published the bulletin in August 2026, and USCIS has instructed family-sponsored adjustment-of-status applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart during September.
The movement affects family-based green card applicants in the F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4 categories. Cutoff dates remain different by country of chargeability. Applicants must compare their priority dates with the correct category and country column before filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
View the official September 2026 Visa Bulletin.
September 2026 Family-Based Visa Bulletin: Key Advancements
Compared with the prior bulletin, the September 2026 family-sponsored categories advanced as follows:
- F1: Advanced approximately 13 months and 7 days.
- F2A: Advanced approximately 1 month and remains Current on the Dates for Filing chart.
- F2B: Advanced approximately 19 months and 21 days.
- F3: Advanced approximately 29 months and 7 days.
- F4: Advanced approximately 25 months and 21 days.
These advancements may permit eligible applicants to begin the adjustment-of-status process or submit documentation through consular processing. The advancement does not guarantee approval. Applicants must satisfy all substantive, procedural, admissibility, and documentary requirements.
What the Family-Sponsored Preference Categories Mean
Family immigration is divided into immediate-relative classifications and family-sponsored preference categories. The Visa Bulletin primarily governs the preference categories because Congress limits the number of immigrant visas available in those classifications.
F1: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
The F1 category applies to unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old.
Marriage generally changes the classification. If an F1 beneficiary marries before obtaining permanent residence, the beneficiary may no longer qualify under F1. The case may require reclassification or may become unavailable depending on the petitioner’s status and the applicable category.
F2A: Spouses and Children of Lawful Permanent Residents
The F2A category applies to:
- Spouses of lawful permanent residents;
- Unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents.
The September 2026 Dates for Filing chart lists F2A as Current for all chargeability areas. “Current” means that no cutoff date applies on that chart for September. The beneficiary must still have an approved or properly filed petition and must otherwise qualify for adjustment of status or an immigrant visa.
F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Lawful Permanent Residents
F2B applies to unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents who are at least 21 years old.
The beneficiary must remain unmarried. A marriage may terminate eligibility under F2B because the category does not include married adult children of permanent residents.
F3: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
The F3 category applies to married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, regardless of the beneficiary’s age.
The spouse and qualifying children of the principal beneficiary may also receive derivative benefits when permitted. Each derivative beneficiary must satisfy the applicable requirements.
F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
F4 applies when an adult U.S. citizen petitions for a brother or sister. The petitioner must be at least 21 years old.
The relationship generally must be established through the siblings’ birth records and documentation showing at least one common legal parent. F4 cases traditionally involve lengthy waits, making the September advancement significant for many beneficiaries.
September 2026 Dates for Filing Chart
USCIS has directed that all family-sponsored preference applicants use the Dates for Filing chart to determine whether they may file Form I-485 in September 2026.
| Category | All Other Chargeability Areas | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01FEB20 | 01FEB20 | 01FEB20 | 01DEC08 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| F2B | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 15MAY10 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 01NOV14 | 01NOV14 | 01NOV14 | 15JUL01 | 08AUG06 |
| F4 | 01NOV11 | 01NOV11 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 22MAR08 |
The listed dates generally mean that the beneficiary’s priority date must be earlier than or equal to the applicable date. An applicant may file only if all other adjustment-of-status requirements are satisfied.
Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing: The Difference
The Visa Bulletin contains two separate charts. Each chart serves a different purpose.
Dates for Filing
The Dates for Filing chart identifies when an applicant may begin submitting the immigrant visa application or Form I-485, if USCIS authorizes that chart for adjustment-of-status filings.
Filing under this chart does not mean that USCIS may immediately approve the green card. The applicant may submit the application and begin processing, but final approval generally requires an immigrant visa to be available under the Final Action Dates chart.
Final Action Dates
The Final Action Dates chart controls when an immigrant visa may be issued or when USCIS may approve a pending Form I-485.
For September 2026, representative Final Action Dates include:
- F1: 22JAN20 for most chargeability areas; 01JAN08 for Mexico; 01MAY13 for the Philippines.
- F2A: 22AUG26 for most chargeability areas; 22AUG25 for Mexico.
- F2B: 22AUG19 for most chargeability areas; 15FEB09 for Mexico; 01JUN13 for the Philippines.
- F3: 22OCT14 for most chargeability areas; 01JUL01 for Mexico; 22FEB06 for the Philippines.
- F4: 22OCT11 for most chargeability areas; 01NOV06 for India; 08APR01 for Mexico; 22AUG07 for the Philippines.
USCIS’s adjustment-of-status filing chart guidance confirms that family-sponsored applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart for September 2026.
How to Check a Family-Based Green Card Priority Date
A priority date establishes the beneficiary’s place in the immigrant visa queue for a preference category.
Use the following process:
-
Locate the Form I-130 receipt notice.
The priority date is generally the date USCIS properly received the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. -
Identify the correct family category.
Confirm whether the case is F1, F2A, F2B, F3, or F4. -
Identify the country of chargeability.
Chargeability is generally based on the beneficiary’s country of birth, not citizenship or current residence. Special cross-chargeability rules may apply in limited circumstances. -
Review the September Dates for Filing chart.
Compare the priority date with the date listed for the category and chargeability area. -
Confirm adjustment-of-status eligibility.
Filing eligibility may depend on lawful entry, inspection or parole, maintenance of status, admissibility, bars, and other factors. -
Review USCIS filing requirements before submission.
Use the current editions of all forms, correct filing fees, required evidence, and the applicable filing address.
A date that is current on the Visa Bulletin does not eliminate the need to establish the qualifying relationship, financial sponsorship, admissibility, and other statutory requirements.
Why USCIS Uses the Dates for Filing Chart in September
The Department of State estimates visa availability through the Visa Bulletin. USCIS then determines whether enough immigrant visas are available for additional adjustment-of-status filings during the relevant month.
For September 2026, USCIS determined that family-sponsored applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart. This chart allows eligible applicants to file Form I-485 before their priority dates become current under the Final Action Dates chart.
Once filed, the applicant may also be able to request related benefits, such as:
- Employment authorization through Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization;
- Advance parole through Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.
Approval of these related benefits is not automatic. Travel outside the United States may create serious consequences for certain applicants, particularly those with unlawful presence or other immigration violations.
I-130 Processing Times and Concurrent Filing
USCIS processing times for immediate-relative Form I-130 petitions currently show a broad range, approximately 21.5 to 75 months, depending on the processing location, case type, and USCIS reporting methodology. These figures are estimates based on historical case completions. They are not guaranteed deadlines.
A U.S. citizen’s spouse is an immediate relative. Immediate relatives are not subject to the numerical limits that apply to family-sponsored preference categories. Accordingly, a spouse of a U.S. citizen who is physically present in the United States and otherwise eligible to adjust status may generally file:
- Form I-130;
- Form I-485;
- Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary;
- Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, when required;
- Form I-765 and Form I-131, if eligible.
This process is called concurrent filing. USCIS confirms that concurrent filing is generally available for immediate relatives when USCIS has jurisdiction over the adjustment-of-status application. It is not available through consular processing because consular processing occurs outside the United States.
Review the USCIS concurrent filing guidance and the Form I-130 requirements before preparing the filing.
Act Before the Fiscal Year Ends
September is the final month of the federal fiscal year. Visa availability can change when the fiscal year ends. Cutoff dates may advance, remain unchanged, retrogress, or become unavailable in a later bulletin.
Applicants should act promptly if their priority dates fall within the September 2026 Dates for Filing chart. They should also verify:
- The correct chargeability area;
- The correct family preference category;
- The current USCIS filing chart;
- The applicable forms and filing fees;
- Required civil documents and translations;
- Financial sponsorship requirements;
- Potential inadmissibility or adjustment-of-status issues.
Country-specific cutoff dates remain decisive. A filing that is eligible under one chargeability column may be unavailable under another.
Blasingame Law LLC provides personalized guidance for spouses, children, parents, siblings, and other family-based immigration applicants. Contact Blasingame Law LLC for a consultation before relying on the September 2026 Visa Bulletin or submitting Form I-130, Form I-485, or related applications.
