[REVISION HISTORY]

USCIS immigration filing and admission policy changes

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-05 23:23 UTC → 2026-09-08 00:59 UTC · added ~~removed~~

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing significant changes to immigration filing procedures and admission policies. Starting September 15, 2026, the agency will enforce a zero-tolerance policy for outdated versions of Form I-539 (Extension or Change of Status) and Form I-765 (Employment Authorization). Applications using old editions will be automatically rejected without a grace period. These updates follow a Department of Homeland Security rule that ends the ‘Duration of Status’ (D/S) system for certain nonimmigrants, such as F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I visa holders, replacing it with fixed periods of admission generally capped at four years. On September 1, 2026, USCIS released a new Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) effective immediately. This version includes an express authorization clause allowing the government to request credit reports to verify the economic capacity of petitioners. While economic sufficiency is measured by an annual income threshold of at least 125% of federal poverty guidelines, the credit report measure aims to ensure declared assets match financial records. Additionally, starting September 18, 2026, a revised Form I-485 for permanent residence will supersede the current 01/20/25 edition. This new version includes expanded questions regarding the ‘public charge’ rule, requiring disclosure of household composition, income, assets, debts, and professional credentials. USCIS has clarified that while applications submitted before the deadline will be accepted, any application rejected for errors—such as missing signatures or incorrect fees—must be resubmitted using the new edition if the correction occurs on or after September 18, 2026, with no grace period for the previous version. These updates are intended to grant officials more discretion in evaluating applicants during the admission and status adjustment processes.

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