8 Key updates for Green Card applicants in September 2026 visa bulletin

In practice, the US Department of State has published its September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the last bulletin of fiscal year 2026.

Key points

• When some categories moved forward while others went backwards, this is a change from earlier in fiscal year 2026.
• The State Department has cautioned that high demand could still push some dates backwards or produce certain visa categories unavailable before the fiscal year ends on September 30.
• Nevertheless, the State Department has produced it clear that this stability may not last until the end of the fiscal year.
• Here are eight key things green card applicants and employers need to know.
• There is no forward movement or retrogression in the major categories this month.

But that does not mean applicants can relax. The State Department has cautioned that high demand could still push some dates backwards or produce certain visa categories unavailable before the fiscal year ends on September 30.

Here are eight key things green card applicants and employers need to know. 1. Most visa dates have not moved.

There is no forward movement or retrogression in the major categories this month. The State Department notes the cutoff dates have "generally held steady from August 2026, with no forward movement or retrogression this month."

When some categories moved forward while others went backwards, this is a change from earlier in fiscal year 2026. For now, the September bulletin is largely stable.

Nevertheless, the State Department has produced it clear that this stability may not last until the end of the fiscal year. 2. Some dates could move backwards before September ends.

In practice, the State Department has cautioned more than once that if demand remains high, it may have to move some cutoff dates backwards or even produce certain categories "unavailable" before September 30.

This kind of warning is common in the final month of the fiscal year, but it is especially significant this year. Earlier in FY2026, the administration moved a number of dates forward to create better apply of the visa numbers available for the year.

In short, 8 Key updates for Green Card applicants in September 2026 visa bulletin is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.