Foreign students, exchange visitors and other non-immigrants in the US need to watch one date closely: September 15, 2026. USCIS will switch to new editions of Forms I-539 and I-765, with no grace period for the old versions.
The change follows a new USCIS rule affecting nonimmigrant academic students, exchange visitors and representatives of foreign information media. The updated forms are designed to support the new admission and extension-of-stay procedures. (Federal Register Public Inspection)
Know About the New Visa Forms
The revised forms carry an edition date of 09/15/26 and will replace:
- Form I-539: 08/28/24 edition
- Form I-765: 08/21/25 edition
USCIS says applicants should not file the new editions before September 15. Applications using the new forms will only be accepted if submitted electronically or postmarked on or after that date.
The old editions remain valid only until September 14, 2026. From September 15, USCIS will reject applications filed using the previous versions.
Filing Dates Matter
| Form | Old edition | Accepted before Sept. 15 | Accepted from Sept. 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-539 | 08/28/24 | Yes | No |
| I-539 | 09/15/26 | No | Yes |
| I-765 | 08/21/25 | Yes | No |
| I-765 | 09/15/26 | No | Yes |
For Indians studying or working in the US, this is mainly a filing-compliance issue, not a new visa application process. The bigger concern is timing: submitting the wrong edition after the deadline can result in rejection and force an applicant to file again.
The absence of a grace period is the part applicants should take most seriously. USCIS is publishing preview copies of both new forms and their instructions so applicants can prepare before the switch.
What Applicants Should Do
- Check the edition date immediately before filing.
- If filing before September 15, use the currently accepted edition.
- If filing on or after September 15, use only the 09/15/26 edition.
- Do not submit the new editions early.
- Check the latest USCIS instructions before submitting electronically or by mail.
USCIS currently provides separate information and processing resources for Form I-765 and other immigration applications. (USCIS E-Gov)
Travelobiz Take:
We see this as a practical compliance update, but the no-grace-period rule raises filing risk. Indian students and workers should verify form editions before submitting any application after September 15.
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