The September visa bulletin doesn’t show a uniform upward trend, as employment-based immigration is largely stuck. (AI generated image)The September 2026 visa bulletin by the US State Department highlighted a freeze in movement for the Employment-Based (EB-2) visa for Indians, while the family-sponsored Green Card applicants showed substantial advances under several categories. The difference is reportedly significant due to the two preference systems responding to separate patterns of demand.The September visa bulletin doesn’t show a uniform upward trend, as employment-based immigration is largely stuck at the August levels. According to the State Department release, the EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, Other Workers, and EB-5 Unreserved Final Action Dates remain unchanged from the August release. In the case of EB-4 and certain Religious Workers categories, the final action dates have advanced by two months.Final action dates for Employment-Based visa categories for August and SeptemberEmployment-Based (EB)August visa bulletin for IndiaSeptember visa bulletin for IndiaEB-1 (Priority Workers)15 October, 202215 October, 2022EB-2 (Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability)UnavailableUnavailableEB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)01 January, 201401 January, 2014EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants)15 October, 202215 December, 2022EB-5 (Employment Creation)UnavailableUnavailableCertain Religious Workers15 October, 202215 December, 2022Other Workers01 January, 201401 January, 2014Why family-sponsored category dates move so fast?According to the US State Department, immigrant visa issuance rates for nationals of certain countries plunged following various administrative actions taken to protect national security and public safety and other US interests. Also Read | US student enrolment projected to fall 9.5%: What it means for IndiansThe department adds that, to make visas available to sufficient prospective immigrants from other countries to use immigrant visa numbers that are available in FY 2026, it has therefore advanced filing and Final Action Dates across several immigrant visa categories throughout recent months.EB-2 visa category freezeIn the Employment-Based (EB-2) visa category, the State Department has said sufficient demand and increased number use “may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category unavailable before the end of the fiscal year to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit.”Nischai Vats is a Deputy Copy Editor at The Indian Express. His work primarily covers US politics and visa and immigration policy, alongside broader international developments, with an emphasis on accuracy, verification, and clear explainers. Experience Nischai joined The Indian Express in May 2024 where he works on writing, editing, and refining high-impact stories for digital platforms. His role involves ensuring editorial consistency, factual accuracy, and clarity in coverage of complex policy-driven subjects. Earlier in his career, he worked across Indian digital newsrooms in reporting and editing roles, including stints at Inshorts, Newslaundry, Tiranga TV, and Catch News. His newsroom experience spans rapid digital publishing, ground reporting, and copy editing across national, civic, and policy beats. Expertise His core areas of focus include: US politics and governance: Coverage of American political developments, executive actions, and policy shifts. US visa and immigration policy: Reporting and editing stories on visa categories, regulatory changes, and immigration pathways affecting global audiences. Editorial accuracy and copy editing: Ensuring clarity, language precision, and verification in fast-paced digital news environments. Authoritativeness and trustworthiness Nischai's journalism is grounded in verified sources, official documentation, and clear attribution, in line with The Indian Express’ editorial standards. His background across reporting and editing enables him to translate complex policy updates into reliable, reader-friendly coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram