U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on August 14, 2026 that it will publish revised editions of Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Both carry an edition date of 09/15/26. Both take effect on September 15, 2026.
The detail that matters most is what USCIS chose to leave out. There is no grace period.
Why the forms changed
USCIS revised both forms to align with the final rule titled Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media, published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2026. That rule replaces duration of status admission for F, J, and I nonimmigrants with a fixed period of admission. USCIS has stated that the revised form editions are necessary for the agency to apply the rule, which is the reason no transition window was offered.
The filing date controls which edition you use
For Form I-539, USCIS will accept the 08/28/24 edition only if it is postmarked or electronically submitted before September 15, 2026, and will reject that edition if it is postmarked or submitted on or after that date.
For Form I-765, USCIS will accept the 08/21/25 edition only if it is postmarked or electronically submitted before September 15, 2026, and will reject that edition on or after that date.
The 09/15/26 editions cannot be filed early. USCIS will accept them only when postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 15, 2026. Preview versions with instructions are posted now on the USCIS Form I-539 and Form I-765 webpages so that filers can prepare.
Who should pay close attention
F-1 students filing for Optional Practical Training or the STEM extension, J-2 spouses seeking employment authorization, and dependents in H-4, L-2, and other categories using Form I-539 all sit directly in the path of this change. So do employers and university offices that assemble filings in batches. A packet prepared in early September and mailed in late September would carry the wrong edition and would be rejected.
The practical step is simple. Confirm the edition date printed in the lower corner of every form immediately before the package leaves your hands, and align the mailing or submission date with the edition you are using.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the new Form I-539 and Form I-765 editions take effect?
September 15, 2026. Both carry the edition date 09/15/26.
Is there a grace period for the older editions?
No. USCIS has stated there is no grace period for either form.
Can I file the new edition before September 15, 2026?
No. USCIS will accept the 09/15/26 editions only when postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 15, 2026.
What happens if I file the wrong edition?
USCIS will reject the filing. A rejection can matter significantly where a filing window is limited, such as an OPT application.
Which forms do the older editions cover?
The 08/28/24 edition of Form I-539 and the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765.
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