Starting September 15, 2026, USCIS will reject all old versions of Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), with no grace period to use outdated editions. The hard deadline exists because the new forms implement a major change to how F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors are authorized to stay and work in the United States. If you hold an F-1 or J-1 visa and plan to extend your status, apply for Optional Practical Training, or seek employment authorization, your application must use the new form edition dated 09/15/26—starting September 15—or it will not be accepted. The shift away from "Duration of Status," the longtime framework allowing students to remain as long as they maintained valid student status, is the reason USCIS will not allow a transition period.
Official resources:
- USCIS Newsroom: New Editions of Forms I-539 and I-765 — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
- Washington International Services: USCIS Announces New Editions of Forms — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
Table of Contents
- Which Forms Change and When
- Who Must File New Forms
- Why There Is No Grace Period
- What Happens If You Are Already Here
- What to Do Before September 15
- Frequently Asked Questions
Which Forms Change and When
Two forms used by students and exchange visitors will have new mandatory editions. USCIS announced that Form I-539 and Form I-765 will be required in their 09/15/26 versions effective September 15, 2026. USCIS will reject any older edition postmarked or submitted electronically on or after that date.
Preview versions of the new forms are already posted on the USCIS website, but applicants filing *before* September 15 must continue using the old edition. This creates a narrow window where new applications cannot yet use the mandated form, even as the deadline approaches.
Who Must File New Forms
F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors are directly affected. According to Washington International Services, you must use the new forms if you are: If your current authorization expires before your program ends, you will need to file an extension—and after September 15, that extension must use the new form.
- Extending or changing your nonimmigrant status
- Applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT extensions
- Seeking employment authorization
Why There Is No Grace Period
The elimination of "Duration of Status" is the direct reason for the hard cutoff. Under Duration of Status, F-1 and J-1 visa holders could remain in the United States for the length of their approved program, rather than for a fixed number of years. The department of Homeland Security published a final rule on July 17, 2026 that replaced this framework with fixed admission periods of up to four years, according to Nixon Peabody LLP.
Because this is a material change to eligibility rules, the old forms do not account for the new fixed-date system. USCIS stated that the new forms are necessary to apply the federal rule and therefore no grace period exists.
What Happens If You Are Already Here
If you are already in the United States under Duration of Status before September 15, 2026, you have a limited transition. According to Duane Morris LLP, you may remain without filing an Extension of Stay until your program end date or November 14, 2030, whichever comes first. However, if you need to extend your stay beyond your current authorized period after September 15, you must file an extension using the new form dated 09/15/26. This means the deadline applies to you even if you held Duration of Status before the rule changed.
What to Do Before September 15
If you need to file Form I-539 or Form I-765 before the deadline: Ellis LLP notes that if your application will arrive after September 15, you must use the new form instead—filing with an old edition after the deadline will result in immediate rejection and delay your application by weeks.
- Determine whether your program end date or authorization period ends before November 14, 2030
- Gather your required documents now—do not wait for the new forms to be finalized
- File with your current old edition before September 15 passes
- After September 15, only the 09/15/26 form editions will be accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file with the old form now and ask for a grace period?
No. USCIS explicitly stated there is no grace period because the new forms are required to implement the fixed admission period rule that replaces Duration of Status.
Do I still have Duration of Status if I'm already in the U.S.?
If you were in the U.S. under Duration of Status before September 15, 2026, you may remain until your program end date or November 14, 2030, whichever is sooner—without filing an extension. However, any extension application after September 15 must use the new form.
What if I file the old form on September 14?
Applications postmarked or submitted before September 15 may use the old form. Any submission on or after September 15 must use the new 09/15/26 edition.