USCIS to implement new visa forms and fixed admission periods

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting only updated versions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 starting September 15, 2026. Older editions of these forms will be rejected from that date without a grace period.

Form I-539, used to extend or change nonimmigrant status, and Form I-765, used to apply for employment authorization (including OPT and STEM OPT for students), are being revised to implement a new Department of Homeland Security rule. This rule ends the ‘Duration of Status’ (D/S) system, replacing it with fixed periods of admission for F-1, J-1, and I visa holders, generally capped at a maximum of four years.

Applicants must ensure they use the versions with the 09/15/26 edition date on or after the deadline. While USCIS has released previews of the new forms, it has cautioned applicants not to submit the new editions before September 15, 2026. Existing editions will be accepted only if submitted or postmarked before the deadline.