USCIS will publish on September 15, 2026 the revised editions of two widely used forms: the Form I-539 (extension or change of nonimmigrant status) and the Form I-765 (employment authorization). The edition date for both is 09/15/26.
What changes
The 09/15/26 editions replace the 08/28/24 edition of the I-539 and the 08/21/25 edition of the I-765. The revision aligns the forms with the final rule establishing a fixed period of admission and an extension of stay procedure for academic students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign media.
The point that causes the most filing errors
The official text is explicit: there is no grace period for the revised editions, because they are necessary for USCIS to apply the final rule. Because of this, USCIS is making preview versions of the 09/15/26 editions and instructions available.
And there is one operational instruction that often goes unnoticed: do not file the 09/15/26 editions before September 15, 2026. USCIS will only accept these editions if they are postmarked or submitted electronically on or after September 15.
What to check
- Before 09/15/2026: use the 08/28/24 edition of the I-539 and the 08/21/25 edition of the I-765.
- On or after 09/15/2026: use the 09/15/26 edition of both.
- The edition date is in the footer of the form. Check the footer on the date you are going to submit, not on the date you started putting the package together.
Next date
September 15, 2026 \u2014 publication of the 09/15/26 editions.
Source
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services \u2014 USCIS to Publish New Editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765, uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts.
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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.