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People carrying out immigration procedures in the United States should pay attention to an important change announced by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The agency informed that as of September 15, 2026, new versions of forms I-539 and I-765 will go into effect, and previous editions will no longer be accepted as of that same date.
The measure is part of an update derived from a recent federal rule related to nonimmigrant students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign media.
What are forms I-539 and I-765 used for?
Form I-539, called Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, is used by certain people who wish to extend their legal stay in the United States or change to another nonimmigrant visa category, provided they meet the requirements established by immigration authorities.
For its part, Form I-765, known as Application for Employment Authorization, allows certain foreign nationals to apply for a work permit in the United States. Once approved, the applicant can obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which allows them to work legally in the country.
Why did USCIS update these documents?
According to USCIS, the new versions were modified to align with a recently published final regulation that establishes a fixed period of admission and a procedure for extension of stay for nonimmigrant academic students, exchange program participants, and foreign media representatives.
The agency explained that these modifications are necessary to implement the changes established in said rule, so there will not be a transition period between the old and new versions.
There will be no grace period
One of the most relevant aspects of the announcement is that USCIS will not grant a grace period to continue using the previous forms.
This means that applications submitted with old versions after the deadline will be rejected, even if the applicant meets all other immigration requirements.
To facilitate the transition, USCIS made preliminary versions of the new forms and their instructions available. However, the agency warned that they should not be submitted before September 15, 2026.
What will happen with Form I-539
According to USCIS, the August 28, 2024 edition of Form I-539 will only continue to be accepted if it is submitted electronically or is postmarked before September 15, 2026.
As of that date:
- La edición del 28 de agosto de 2024 será rechazada.
- Solo será válida la nueva edición con fecha 15 de septiembre de 2026.
The new form will only be accepted if it is submitted electronically or is postmarked September 15, 2026, or later.
What will happen with Form I-765
In the case of Form I-765, USCIS indicated that the August 21, 2025 edition will continue to be valid only for applications submitted before September 15, 2026.
From that date:
- La edición del 21 de agosto de 2025 dejará de ser aceptada.
USCIS will reject applications submitted with that version if they were filed on or after September 15, 2026.
Only the updated edition dated September 15, 2026, will be accepted for applications submitted on or after that day.
The immigration authorities recommend carefully checking the date printed on forms before submitting them. Those planning to request an extension of stay, a change of immigration status, or a work permit must ensure they use the correct version to avoid delays or rejections in their proceedings.
USCIS noted that preliminary versions of forms I-539 and I-765 can now be viewed on its official portal along with the corresponding instructions, so that applicants can familiarize themselves with the changes before the new editions go into effect on September 15, 2026.
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