Tertius News is an AI-native newsroom: an AI model reads the linked source articles below and extracts what each outlet reported, so you can compare their coverage side by side. How this works →
Green Card delay for Indians takes another turn: Which categories are unavailable or at risk? What to know
The US State Department's September 2026 Visa Bulletin brings large jumps in family-sponsored green card dates for India, but employment-based categories remain stuck, with EB-2 and EB-5 unreserved unavailable for Indians and a warning that EB-1 could run out before the fiscal year ends.
The US State Department's September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the final update for fiscal year 2026, delivers significant forward movement for Indian family-sponsored green card applicants but little relief on the employment-based side. Several family categories advanced by more than a year, some by over two years, while two India-specific employment categories remain unavailable and another is at risk of running out before September 30.
Family-Sponsored: Big Jumps for India
The headline movement is in the family-sponsored preference categories. For most countries, including India and China, the F1 final action date (for unmarried adult sons and daughters of US citizens) moved from December 15, 2018, to January 22, 2020 — a jump of over 13 months. F2B (unmarried adult children of permanent residents) moved from January 1, 2018, to August 22, 2019, an advance of about 20 months. F3 (married sons and daughters of US citizens) moved from May 15, 2012, to October 22, 2014 — a gain of about 29 months.
F2A (spouses and minor children of permanent residents) advanced by about a month for most countries, including India, to August 22, 2026. Mexico also saw a one-month advance to August 22, 2025. For F4 (siblings of adult US citizens), India's date remained unchanged at November 1, 2006, while worldwide and China moved from September 1, 2009, to October 22, 2011.
The State Department attributed the movement to reduced immigrant visa issuance for nationals of certain countries under Administration policies affecting visa processing. According to WR Immigration, a law firm tracking the bulletin, the advances are intended to maximize use of available FY 2026 numbers, though the late timing may limit how many visas can actually be issued before the fiscal year ends. The changes to the family-sponsored Dates for Filing chart (chart B), meanwhile, are designed primarily to generate demand for FY 2027 numbers, with little impact on FY 2026 usage.
Employment-Based: EB-2 and EB-5 Unavailable for India
The employment-based picture for India is more constrained. EB-2 India is listed as "U" (unavailable) in the Final Action Dates chart, meaning no immigrant visa numbers are authorized for that category in September. EB-5 unreserved India is also unavailable. The three EB-5 set-aside categories — rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure — remain current for all countries, including India.
EB-1 India, covering priority workers, remains available with a final action date of October 15, 2022, unchanged from August. EB-3 India stays at January 1, 2014. EB-4 India advanced two months, from October 15, 2022, to December 15, 2022.
The State Department warned that high demand and visa-number use by applicants chargeable to India could make EB-1 India unavailable before the fiscal year ends if India's prorated limit is reached. The department also warned that EB-2 could face further retrogression or unavailability before September 30 due to increased demand and number use, a warning that applies beyond India. China's EB-2 final action date remains September 1, 2021, while EB-2 is current for most other countries.
For EB-3 Other Workers in September, the final action date is April 1, 2022, for most countries, May 1, 2019, for China, January 1, 2014, for India, and December 1, 2021, for the Philippines. The EB-5 unreserved category for China holds at December 1, 2016.
Understanding the Bulletin and What Happens Next
The Visa Bulletin sets two sets of dates: Final Action Dates (when a visa number is actually available for approval or issuance) and Dates for Filing (when applicants may be allowed to submit adjustment-of-status applications or visa documents, if the chart is accepted by USCIS). For September, USCIS had not yet announced which chart would be accepted for adjustment-of-status filings, as of the bulletin's release.
For FY 2026, the worldwide employment-based preference limit is 186,317, and the family-sponsored limit is 226,000. The per-country limit for FY 2026 is calculated at 28,862, rising to 29,136 when applicable EB-5 carryover numbers are included.
The fiscal year ends September 30. The State Department has said that cutoff dates could still be retrogressed or categories made unavailable before then, depending on demand and number use. The annual limits reset on October 1, 2026, the start of fiscal year 2027, though cutoffs can change at any time.
For Indian applicants, the practical guidance from multiple sources is to check the applicable filing chart and act promptly if eligible, especially in categories that are current or close to the cutoff. The September bulletin is the final one for FY 2026, but the State Department has signaled it is monitoring several categories closely and could make last-minute changes.
How each outlet told it
Business Today
Framing: Emphasizes family green card date jumps alongside fresh risk for Indian EB-1 applicants; dual relief-and-risk frame — Measured-cautionary — 'The September bulletin’s stability should not be mistaken for certainty'; 'fresh risk of last-minute disruption'
Facts Included:
No movement in major India employment categories Aug to Sept: EB-1 India Oct 15, 2022; EB-2 India unavailable; EB-3 India Jan 1, 2014
EB-4 India advanced from Oct 15, 2022 to Dec 15, 2022
EB-5 unreserved unavailable for India; rural, high unemployment, infrastructure set-asides current for all countries
State Department warning EB-2 could retrogress or become unavailable before Sept 30; applies beyond India
China EB-2 final action Sept 1, 2021; EB-2 current for most other countries
Warning EB-1 India may become unavailable if prorated limit reached before FY end
Warning EB-5 unreserved could retrogress/become unavailable; China EB-5 unreserved Dec 1, 2016
EB-3 Other Workers Sept dates: most countries Apr 1, 2022; China May 1, 2019; India Jan 1, 2014; Philippines Dec 1, 2021 (unchanged)
India F1 advanced to Jan 22, 2020 from Dec 15, 2018
India F2B to Aug 22, 2019 from Jan 1, 2018
India F3 to Oct 22, 2014 from May 15, 2012 (more than two years)
F2A most countries including India from July 22, 2026 to Aug 22, 2026; current on Dates for Filing
F2B Dates for Filing Sept 1, 2019 most countries excluding Mexico and Philippines
DOS advanced dates earlier to use FY numbers as issuance fell for some countries; dates may move backwards
Framing: Listicle of 8 key updates for green card applicants — utility/overview rather than single drama angle — Practical-cautionary — 'do not delay unnecessarily'; 'this “no change” bulletin still matters'
Facts Included:
Eight key updates structure; DOS warned high demand could push dates back or make categories unavailable before Sept 30
Major categories generally held steady Aug to Sept — quote on no forward movement or retrogression this month
Earlier FY2026 some categories moved forward/backward; stability may not last
EB2 and EB5 unreserved already unavailable for Indian applicants
EB1 India still available at Oct 15, 2022 but could become unavailable next from rising Indian demand
Broader EB2 and EB5 unreserved monitoring; China EB2 Sept 1, 2021; China EB5 unreserved Dec 1, 2016
EB3 Other Workers dates: most Apr 1, 2022; China May 1, 2019; India Jan 1, 2014; Philippines Dec 1, 2021
F2A final action Aug 22, 2026 most countries incl. India/China/Philippines; Mexico Aug 22, 2025
Other family categories also saw movement; Mexico, India, Philippines face different cutoffs
USCIS had not yet announced which chart for September; recent pattern EB Final Action vs family Dates for Filing
Earlier advances partly linked to lower issuance after presidential proclamations and administration actions
Demand catching up explains backward-risk warnings
Framing: Centers Green Card delay for Indians and which categories are unavailable or at risk — Alarmed-focused on constraints — 'severely constrained', 'biggest restriction', 'need to watch most closely'
Facts Included:
Mixed picture for Indians: some family forward; several EB constrained
Two India-specific categories unavailable; warning another could run out before FY end Sept 30
EB-2 India marked U unavailable — no immigrant visa numbers authorized in September
Warning increased demand could require further EB-2 retrogression/unavailability before FY2026 end
EB-5 India unreserved unavailable; rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure set-asides current for India
EB-5 unreserved demand warning for possible further retrogression/unavailability
EB-1 India final action still Oct 15, 2022; warning high India demand could make EB-1 India unavailable before Sept 30
FY end does not mean permanent closure; numbers reset Oct 1, 2026 though cutoffs can change
Distinguish already unavailable (EB-2 India, EB-5 unreserved India) vs at-risk available (EB-1 India)
Framing: FAQ on employment-based categories for Indians seeking Green Cards — evergreen process guide, not September bulletin news — Neutral-instructional — definitional Q&A style without alarm or celebration
Facts Included:
Employment-based green card stages: category choice, immigrant petition, wait for visa number
Framing: US Green Card relief for Indian families; asks which categories moved — family-relief lead — Sympathetic on family relief, matter-of-fact on EB — 'relief for Indian families', 'setback for employment-based'
Facts Included:
September bulletin is final update for FY2026
Employment-based barely moved; family-sponsored is the headline movement, some by more than two years
Explains Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing / NVC document assembly
India F1: Dec 15, 2018 to Jan 22, 2020
F2A moved about a month: July 22, 2026 to Aug 22, 2026
F2B: Jan 1, 2018 to Aug 22, 2019
F3: May 15, 2012 to Oct 22, 2014
F4 India: Nov 1, 2006 unchanged both months
EB-1 India warning reiterated: may become unavailable if pro-rated limit reached; monitored continuously
EB-2 and EB-5 may see retrogression or unavailability before FY end to stay within FY2026 limits
EB table: EB-1 Oct 15, 2022 unchanged; EB-2 U; EB-3 Jan 1, 2014; EB-4 Oct 15, 2022 to Dec 15, 2022; EB-5 U
NDAA FY2024 may affect certain US government employees abroad and surviving spouses/children for SIVs/AOS
Framing: What Indian applicants need to know across EB-1/2/3 and family visas — explainer/guide angle — Measured-explanatory — procedural definitions and date lists without strong emotional coloring
Facts Included:
Bulletin sets Final Action and Dates for Filing for September
EB-1 India Final Action Oct 15, 2022; Dates for Filing Dec 1, 2023
EB-1 India unavailability warning if annual allocation reached before FY2026 end
EB-2 India Final Action U unavailable; Dates for Filing Jan 15, 2015; further retrogression warning
EB-3 India Final Action Jan 1, 2014; filing Jan 15, 2015; Other Workers same Final Action/filing pair
EB-5 unreserved India U; Dates for Filing May 1, 2024; rural/high-unemployment/infrastructure current for India and others
India family Final Action: F1 Jan 22, 2020; F2A Aug 22, 2026; F2B Aug 22, 2019; F3 Oct 22, 2014; F4 Nov 1, 2006
F2A Dates for Filing current all countries including India
FY2026 family limit 226,000; EB 186,317; per-country 28,862 / up to 29,136 with carryover
DV-2026: September final month; eligibility ends Sept 30, 2026
Framing: Emphasizes sharp advance of final action dates; does not headline India-specific EB risk or unavailability — Sympathetic-urgent toward long-waiting families — 'extraordinary', 'remarkable'; 'this is the time to be ready'; also critical of DOS timing
Facts Included:
Substantial family-sponsored forward movement; some advances more than two years; most EB unchanged near Sept 30 FY end
DOS attributes movement to reduced immigrant visa issuance for nationals of certain countries under Administration policies
Family Dates for Filing changes intended mainly to generate FY 2027 demand, little FY 2026 number-use impact
F1 most countries incl. China/India: Dec 15, 2018 to Jan 22, 2020 (~13 months); Mexico Dec 1, 2007 to Jan 1, 2008; Philippines May 1, 2013
F2A +1 month most countries to Aug 22, 2026; Mexico to Aug 22, 2025
F2B most countries incl. China/India: Jan 1, 2018 to Aug 22, 2019 (~20 months)
F3 most countries incl. China/India: May 15, 2012 to Oct 22, 2014 (~29 months)
F4 worldwide/China: Sept 1, 2009 to Oct 22, 2011; India Nov 1, 2006; Mexico Apr 8, 2001; Philippines modest advance
EB-1: worldwide current; China July 1, 2023; India Oct 15, 2022; India unavailability warning
EB-2: worldwide current; China Sept 1, 2021; India unavailable; broader EB-2 retrogression warning
EB-3 unchanged: worldwide Sept 1, 2024; China Jan 1, 2022; India Jan 1, 2014; Philippines Aug 1, 2023
EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers advance Oct 15, 2022 to Dec 15, 2022
EB-5 unreserved: worldwide current; China Dec 1, 2016; India unavailable; set-asides current all countries
FY 2026 EB limit 186,317; family 226,000; per-country 28,862 / 29,136 with EB-5 carryover
Caution dates could retrogress; surge in demand possible; act promptly if current
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimThere was no movement in the major employment-based categories for India between the August and September 2026 bulletins.
ClaimThe EB-5 rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure set-aside categories remain current for all countries, including India, in the September 2026 Visa Bulletin.
ClaimThe State Department warned that high demand and visa-number use by applicants chargeable to India may require EB-1 India to become unavailable in the coming weeks if India's prorated limit is reached before the end of fiscal year 2026.
ClaimThe State Department warned that increased number use in the EB-5 unreserved category could require retrogression or unavailability before the end of September 2026.
ClaimFor EB-3 Other Workers in September 2026, the final action date is April 1, 2022, for most countries, May 1, 2019, for China, January 1, 2014, for India, and December 1, 2021, for the Philippines.
ClaimFor most countries, including China and India, the F1 Final Action Date advances from December 15, 2018, to January 22, 2020, in the September 2026 Visa Bulletin.
ClaimFor most countries, including China and India, the F2B Final Action Date advances from January 1, 2018, to August 22, 2019, in the September 2026 Visa Bulletin.
ClaimFor most countries, including China and India, the F3 Final Action Date advances from May 15, 2012, to October 22, 2014, in the September 2026 Visa Bulletin.
ClaimThe State Department advanced dates in earlier months to use available fiscal-year visa numbers as immigrant-visa issuance rates fell for applicants from some countries.
ClaimThe Department of State attributes the movement in the September 2026 Visa Bulletin to reduced immigrant visa issuance for nationals of certain countries under Administration policies affecting visa processing.
ClaimDOS warns that heavy Indian EB-1 demand could cause the category to become unavailable before September 30 if India's FY 2026 allocation is exhausted.
ClaimThe State Department reiterated the warning for EB-1 India that high demand and number use may make the category unavailable in the coming weeks if India's pro-rated limit is reached before the fiscal year ends.
ClaimThe State Department said EB-2 and EB-5 may see retrogression in the final action date, or the category may become unavailable before the end of the fiscal year to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit.
ClaimThe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, signed into law on December 22, 2023, may affect certain current and former employees of the US Government abroad, as well as certain surviving spouses and children of deceased employees of the US government abroad, applying for SIVs or adjustment of status.
ClaimFor EB-3 skilled workers and professionals, India's September Final Action Date is January 1, 2014, and the Dates for Filing cut-off is January 15, 2015.
ClaimUSCIS had not yet announced which chart applicants can use for September 2026 adjustment-of-status filings as of the release of the September Visa Bulletin.
ClaimThe State Department said the cutoff dates have generally held steady from August 2026, with no forward movement or retrogression in the major categories in September.
ClaimEB2 India is currently unavailable because India's share of the annual employment-based visa numbers has already been heavily used during the fiscal year.
ClaimThe State Department is continually monitoring the EB2 and EB5 unreserved categories and could still make a last-minute change before September 30.
ClaimThe annual immigrant visa numbers reset with the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, 2026, although the applicable cut-off dates can change.
ClaimA priority date generally corresponds to the date a labor certification application is accepted by the Department of Labor, or the date USCIS properly receives the immigrant petition if no labor certification is required.
ClaimAdjustment of status allows an eligible person already present in the US to apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the US; applicants outside the US generally use consular processing.