September 2026 brought three official notices with dates that matter for October: the deadline for DV-2026 lottery visas, a new rule on registration of lawful permanent residence for children of foreign government employees born in the U.S., and a USCIS notice about the e-Request tool. This page brings all three together, with the date that matters in each one and the link to the official text.
30-second summary
- September 30, 2026 — the right to DV-2026 lottery visas ends, and the numbers may run out before that date.
- September 4, 2026 — registration of lawful permanent residence for children of foreign government employees born in the U.S. takes effect; comments due by October 5.
- September 4, 2026 — USCIS opens another 30 days of public comment on the e-Request information collection.
1. DV-2026: the right to the visa ends on September 30, 2026
According to the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the right to immigrant status in the DV category is valid only until the end of the fiscal year for which the applicant was selected. For those who registered for DV-2026, that year ends on September 30, 2026, and after that date no DV-2026 visas can be issued.
The same date applies to spouses and children accompanying the principal selectee. The bulletin itself warns that the numbers may run out before September 30, so the actual cutoff date may come earlier.
How the bulletin works every month is explained in the guide Visa Bulletin: how to know if your family's line moved forward.
2. Lawful permanent residence for children of foreign government employees
DHS, through USCIS, published an interim final rule in the Federal Register on September 9, 2026. It allows children born in the United States to foreign government employees who are not U.S. citizens to register for lawful permanent residence.
The rule has been in effect since September 4, 2026, and covers children born on or after that date. For those born earlier, the document states that the regulation in effect on the date of birth applies. DHS is also amending Form I-485 and Form G-325R. The publication does not include a new edition date for either form, so the reference is the official page for each form on uscis.gov on the day of submission.
Public comments are open until October 5, 2026, under docket USCIS-2026-0496 at regulations.gov. What the G-325R requires is covered in the guide Alien registration in the U.S..
3. e-Request: another 30 days of public comment
On September 4, 2026, the Federal Register published a notice from DHS and USCIS about the e-Request information collection. This is the step required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 before the request goes to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The document itself classifies the request as an extension, without change, of a previously approved collection. The notice opens another 30 days of public comment and does not describe any change to how e-Request is used.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin for September 2026
- Federal Register — Registration of Lawful Permanent Residence for Children Born to Foreign Government Employees (09/09/2026)
- Federal Register — e-Request Tool, Extension Without Change (04/09/2026)
More news and guides on the Prime blog.
Educational information, not legal advice. Prime Immigration Office is a paralegal service — document preparation only. For legal advice, consult a licensed Texas attorney or DOJ-accredited representative.