The September 2026 Visa Bulletin has been released.
Compared with August, the cut-off dates for EB-3 Skilled/Professional and EB-3 Other Workers applicable to Vietnam remain unchanged.
In this Visa Bulletin, family-sponsored immigration categories continue to see their own adjustments based on visa allocation, while the EB-3 categories maintain the same dates as the previous month. This shows that each visa category is managed according to its respective numerical limits and actual demand, rather than all categories advancing at the same time.
For those pursuing EB-3, a month in which the Visa Bulletin remains unchanged does not mean that their cases have stopped being processed.
EB-3 Remains Unchanged in September 2026 Compared With August
According to the August and September 2026 Visa Bulletin charts, the dates applicable to Vietnam remain unchanged:
| Category | August 2026 | September 2026 |
| EB-3 Skilled/Professional – Final Action Date | 09/01/2024 | 09/01/2024 |
| EB-3 Skilled/Professional – Dates for Filing | Current | Current |
| EB-3 Other Workers – Final Action Date | 04/01/2022 | 04/01/2022 |
| EB-3 Other Workers – Dates for Filing | 08/01/2022 | 08/01/2022 |
Therefore, both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for EB-3 remain unchanged in September.
Why Doesn't the Visa Bulletin Advance Every Month?
The Visa Bulletin does not operate under a rule requiring the cut-off dates to advance by a fixed amount every month.
The U.S. Department of State must manage visa issuance based on statutory numerical limits, visa demand, country of chargeability, and visa usage throughout the fiscal year.
For fiscal year 2026, the annual limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants is set at 226,000, while the worldwide annual level for employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000.
As a result, some categories may advance more quickly in certain months, while others may remain unchanged or even retrogress.
Therefore, the fact that EB-3 remains unchanged in September should be viewed as part of visa-number management, not as an indication that the EB-3 program has stopped.
One Noteworthy Point for EB-3 Skilled
Although the Final Action Date has not advanced, the Dates for Filing for EB-3 Skilled/Professional remains Current (C).
Meanwhile, the Final Action Date remains at 09/01/2024.
These two charts serve different purposes. Dates for Filing relates to when applicants may be able to take certain document-filing steps under the applicable rules, while the Final Action Date is an important cut-off related to when a visa may be issued once the Priority Date is current and all other requirements have been met.
Therefore, “Current” under Dates for Filing does not mean that an EB-3 Skilled applicant will immediately receive a visa.
EB-3 Other Workers Continue to Wait
For EB-3 Other Workers (Unskilled), there is also no movement in September.
The Final Action Date remains 04/01/2022, while the Dates for Filing remains 08/01/2022.
Cases with Priority Dates later than the corresponding cut-off dates will need to continue monitoring future Visa Bulletins.
September is particularly significant because it is the final month of the U.S. federal fiscal year. The new fiscal year begins on October 1, and visa numerical limits are administered on a fiscal-year basis.
Therefore, the upcoming Visa Bulletins as the United States enters FY2027 will be important updates to monitor.
An Unchanged Visa Bulletin Does Not Mean Your Case Has Stopped Moving
This is an important point for EB-3 applicants to understand.
The Visa Bulletin is only one part of the overall EB-3 process.
While visa cut-off dates remain unchanged, an individual case may still be progressing through other stages, such as PERM, I-140, or NVC processing, depending on the specific status of the case.
Therefore, instead of relying solely on the Visa Bulletin to determine whether a case is “moving” or “stuck,” workers should accurately identify:
- What is the Priority Date of the case?
- Is the case under EB-3 Skilled or Other Workers?
- Is the case currently at the PERM, I-140, NVC, or visa-waiting stage?
- How far is the current Final Action Date from the case's Priority Date?
These are the factors that provide a more realistic assessment of an individual case's status.
September Holds Steady – Continue Monitoring the First Months of FY2027
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin does not bring new forward movement for EB-3 applicants from Vietnam, but importantly, there is also no retrogression.
EB-3 Skilled/Professional maintains a Final Action Date of 09/01/2024, while Dates for Filing remains Current.
EB-3 Other Workers maintains a Final Action Date of 04/01/2022 and a Dates for Filing date of 08/01/2022.
As September closes fiscal year 2026, those pursuing EB-3 should continue monitoring upcoming Visa Bulletins as the United States enters the new fiscal year in October.
One month without movement does not determine the entire EB-3 journey. What remains important is tracking the correct category, the correct Priority Date, and the actual stage of your case.
TGA will continue to provide monthly Visa Bulletin updates and analyze changes related to EB-3 so that clients can follow the progress of their cases more clearly.
