by Niloofar Rahimi Zadeh updated on Aug 17, 2026 04:57:54 PM
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will introduce new editions of Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, on September 15, 2026. Starting that same day, USCIS will reject the previous editions of both forms if they are submitted too late.
The change is especially important for international students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT, since those applications require Form I-765. Students and other nonimmigrants using Form I-539 to extend or change certain nonimmigrant statuses should also pay close attention to the filing date.
USCIS will publish 09/15/26 editions of both Form I-539 and Form I-765. The new versions will replace:
USCIS will accept the older editions only if they are postmarked or electronically submitted before September 15, 2026. If an applicant submits one of the previous editions on or after September 15, USCIS will reject the filing.
At the same time, applicants should not use the new 09/15/26 editions early. USCIS says the new versions will only be accepted when they are postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 15, 2026.
This means the correct form edition depends directly on when the application is filed.
Form I-765 is the application used by F-1 students seeking employment authorization for OPT and the 24-month STEM OPT extension. USCIS requires eligible F-1 students to properly file Form I-765 when applying for OPT employment authorization.
As a result, an F-1 student preparing an OPT or STEM OPT application around the September 15 transition should double-check the edition date immediately before filing.
Using an outdated edition after the cutoff could lead to rejection, potentially creating complications when an applicant is already working within a limited OPT or STEM OPT filing window.
Form I-539 is used by certain nonimmigrants seeking to extend their stay or change to another nonimmigrant status.
International students and their dependents may encounter Form I-539 in certain change-of-status or dependent-status situations. Anyone preparing an I-539 filing close to September 15 should therefore make sure the form edition matches the USCIS requirements in effect on the actual filing date.
The Form I-765 update does not directly change the CPT authorization process. For F-1 students, CPT is authorized by the student's Designated School Official (DSO) and documented on Form I-20; students do not file Form I-765 with USCIS to obtain CPT authorization.
However, students currently using CPT or enrolled in Day 1 CPT programs may later apply for OPT, STEM OPT, or another immigration benefit involving Form I-765 or Form I-539. In those situations, the new USCIS form editions could become relevant.
Applicants planning to submit Form I-539 or Form I-765 around the transition should download the form directly from USCIS shortly before filing rather than relying on a previously saved copy.
The key deadline is September 15, 2026:
Because USCIS has announced that outdated editions will be rejected after the transition date, checking the edition date should be part of the final review before submitting an application.
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