U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is preparing an important filing change for international students, exchange visitors and other nonimmigrants, with revised editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 becoming mandatory from September 15, 2026.

USCIS says it will publish the 09/15/26 editions of Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, on that date. Older editions filed on or after September 15 will be rejected, with no grace period for switching between versions.

Form I-539 is commonly used by eligible nonimmigrants already in the United States who want to extend their authorised stay or change to another nonimmigrant classification. Form I-765 is used by eligible applicants seeking employment authorisation, including many F-1 students applying for Optional Practical Training or STEM OPT.

USCIS will accept the existing 08/28/24 edition of Form I-539 and the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765 only when they are postmarked or electronically submitted before September 15. Beginning September 15, applicants must use the new 09/15/26 editions. USCIS is also warning applicants not to submit the new versions early, as forms filed before their effective date will be rejected.

The strict transition means applicants preparing filings around the September 15 cutoff will need to carefully check the edition date printed on their forms.

Anyone filing before the deadline should use the edition currently accepted by USCIS, while applications submitted on or after September 15 must contain the revised forms. This makes the filing or postmark date particularly important for paper applications and the submission date important for eligible online filings.

The revised forms are connected to wider immigration changes taking effect on the same date, particularly for F, J and I nonimmigrant classifications.

A Department of Homeland Security final rule taking effect September 15, 2026, replaces the long-standing Duration of Status, or D/S, framework for F academic students, J exchange visitors and most I foreign media representatives with fixed periods of admission.

Under the new framework, F and J nonimmigrants will generally be admitted for the length of their programme, subject to a maximum admission period of four years. Those who need additional time may have to request an extension of stay through USCIS or obtain a new period of admission after travelling abroad.

The final rule also introduces transition provisions for people already maintaining F or J status under D/S when the rule takes effect, meaning the impact will vary depending on a person's programme dates, employment authorisation and immigration circumstances.

The changes are particularly relevant for Indian students in F-1 status who may need Form I-765 for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT employment authorisation.

Students and other affected nonimmigrants planning filings close to September 15 should verify the correct USCIS edition before submitting paperwork. Those seeking additional time in the United States beyond a fixed admission period may also face new extension-of-stay requirements under the DHS rule.

With both the new immigration rule and revised USCIS forms taking effect on the same date, September 15, 2026 will become a major compliance deadline for international students, exchange visitors and other affected nonimmigrants in the United States.