Indian families waiting for U.S. green cards received positive news as the September 2026 Visa Bulletin announced major movement in several family-based categories. These updates may help more applicants move closer to U.S. permanent residency. However, the EB-1 India category remained unchanged, leaving many highly skilled Indian applicants waiting for future movement. New annual visa numbers will become available when the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2026.

What Is the U.S. Visa Bulletin?

The U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin every month to provide updates on immigrant visa availability. It helps applicants understand when they may proceed based on their visa category, country of birth, and priority date. A green card applicant can usually continue the final stages of the process when their priority date becomes earlier than the listed cutoff date. The bulletin includes both family-sponsored and employment-based green card categories.

The final action date shows when an applicant’s priority date becomes current and when they may proceed with the final stages of the green card process.

Family-Based Green Card Categories See Major Progress in September 2026

Several family-sponsored categories experienced significant advancement in the September Visa Bulletin. These changes may benefit Indian applicants who have been waiting for years due to long family-based immigration backlogs.

F-1 Category Advances for Unmarried Adult Children of U.S. Citizens

The F-1 family-based category is for unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old. For India and China, the final action date moved forward from December 15, 2018, to January 22, 2020. This represents an advancement of more than 13 months, allowing more applicants with older priority dates to move closer to green card approval.

F-2B Category Moves Forward for Adult Children of Green Card Holders

The F-2B category is for unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. permanent residents who are seeking family-sponsored green cards. The final action date advanced from January 1, 2018, to August 22, 2019. This nearly 20-month movement provides relief for families who have been waiting for their green card applications to move forward.

F-3 Category Sees Significant Movement

The F-3 category includes married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens who qualify for family-sponsored immigration. The September Visa Bulletin moved the final action date from May 15, 2012, to October 22, 2014. This nearly 29-month advancement represents one of the biggest movements among family-sponsored categories.

F-2A Category Moves Slightly Forward

The F-2A category includes spouses and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. green card holders. The final action date advanced from July 22, 2026, to August 22, 2026. Although the movement was smaller compared with other family categories, it still provides progress for eligible applicants.

EB-1 India Green Card Category Remains Unchanged

The EB-1 employment-based category includes:

• Individuals with extraordinary abilities
• Outstanding professors and researchers
• Certain multinational executives and managers

For Indian applicants, the EB-1 final action date remains October 15, 2022. Unlike family-based categories, EB-1 India did not see advancement in the September 2026 Visa Bulletin. The Department of State noted that high demand could affect EB-1 visa availability before the end of the fiscal year if India reaches its annual allocation limit.

Visa Bulletin Update Benefits for Indian Green Card Applicants

Indian applicants often face longer waiting periods because of high demand in employment-based and family-based categories. The monthly Visa Bulletin helps applicants understand:

• Whether their priority date is current
• Whether they can move forward with the green card process
• Whether their category is advancing or remaining unchanged

Applicants should regularly check the latest green card priority dates and prepare documents before their dates become current.

Proposed Immigration Bill Could Create a New Green Card Pathway

A proposed immigration bill in the U.S. Senate could create another pathway for certain long-term residents to apply for permanent residency. If approved, the proposal may create a new pathway for certain individuals who have maintained continuous U.S. residence for seven years to apply for a green card after meeting specific requirements. The proposal must still pass through the legislative process and become law before any changes take effect.

Why the Proposal Matters for Indian H-1B Visa Holders

The proposal has received attention from many Indian professionals because Indians represent a large share of H-1B visa holders in the United States. Many Indian H-1B workers experience long green card waits because of employment-based visa limits and country-specific caps. If the proposal becomes law, eligible H-1B holders who meet the requirements could have another option to seek permanent residency.

What Indian Green Card Applicants Should Do Now

Applicants waiting for a U.S. green card should:

• Check the latest Visa Bulletin every month
• Track their priority date
• Understand their immigration category
• Keep required documents ready
• Follow updates from official U.S. immigration sources

Visa Bulletin movement can change each month, so staying informed helps applicants make better decisions.

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin brought encouraging progress for several family-based green card categories, helping many Indian families move closer to U.S. permanent residency. However, the EB-1 India category remained unchanged, and high demand continues to affect employment-based applicants.

Indian travelers managing their immigration journey can also plan their upcoming trips with confidence by exploring Indian Eagle deals for affordable international flights between the United States and India.

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