New Form I-539 and I-765 Requirements Take Effect September 15

The new editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 will be mandatory for all applications filed on or after September 15. USCIS has stated that it will not accept previous versions after that date, and filings with outdated forms may be rejected outright.

The form changes accompany a Department of Homeland Security rule that eliminates the duration-of-status framework for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I foreign media representatives. Instead, these nonimmigrants will be admitted for a fixed period, generally capped at four years for F-1 and J-1 visa holders, depending on program length and applicable regulations.

Individuals already in F-1 or J-1 status when the rule takes effect will receive a transition period that can last up to four years from September 15. Those who need to stay longer must file an extension-of-stay application with USCIS, and a school-issued program extension alone may not suffice for immigration purposes.

The changes carry particular weight for Indian nationals, who make up a significant portion of both international students and H-1B workers in the United States. H-4 dependents of H-1B visa holders commonly use Form I-539 to extend or change status, while eligible H-4 spouses and students use Form I-765 to apply for work authorization.

Applicants are urged to verify the edition date on their forms before filing. The September 15 deadline applies to both form versions and the new admission-period rules, creating overlapping compliance requirements for affected visa holders.