USCIS mandates new immigration forms for students, spouses and green-card seekers in September

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that on Sept 15 it will roll out updated editions of Form I-539, which governs extensions or changes of non-immigrant status, and Form I-765, the employment-authorization application. The changes eliminate the “duration of status” provision for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors, meaning those whose programs exceed their I-94 expiration must obtain a formal extension.

The revised I-539 will also serve H-4, L-2 dependents and B-visa visitors. On Sept 18, USCIS will introduce a new Form I-485 for adjustment-of-status and green-card seekers, incorporating additional queries and documentation linked to the public-charge framework. The agency warned that any older-edition forms filed after the respective cut-off will be rejected, emphasizing that the filing date—not just preparation date—must meet the new requirements.