The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will introduce revised versions of Form I‑539 and Form I‑765 from September 15, 2026, and has said older versions will be rejected from that date with no grace period.
Form I‑539, the ‘Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status’, is used by those already in the US to request an extension of authorised stay or to change from one non-immigrant status to another. Form I‑765, the ‘Application for Employment Authorisation’, is used to apply for a work permit, including Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT extensions for F‑1 students.
Both revised forms, carrying an edition date of September 15, have been updated to implement a new department of homeland security rule establishing fixed periods of admission for F‑1 students, J‑1 exchange visitors and I visa holders. The rule, also effective September 15, ends the long‑standing “Duration of Status” (D/S) system. Under the new system, F‑1, J‑1 and I visa holders will generally be admitted for a fixed period linked to their programme, with a maximum stay of four years.
The change is significant for Indians, who form a large share of international students and skilled professionals in the US. Indian students applying for OPT or STEM OPT must use the revised I‑765, while those seeking to extend or change nonimmigrant status must use the updated I‑539.
USCIS will accept the existing August 28, 2024 edition of I‑539 and August 21, 2025 edition of I‑765 if postmarked or submitted electronically before September 15. From that date, those editions will be rejected, and the new September 15 editions cannot be filed before then. USCIS has released preview versions of the new forms and instructions on its website but has warned applicants not to file them before September 15.
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