USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) will publish new editions of Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization, the EAD application) on September 15, 2026. Starting that same day, all old editions will be rejected, and again, there is no grace period.
First, the point people most often get wrong
USCIS issued two form edition announcements this month, and the dates are different:
- I-539 and I-765: September 15
- I-485 (applying for a green card from inside the US): September 18
That's a three-day gap. If you're filing an I-485 and an I-765 at the same time (many people file them together), during those three days an old I-765 will already be rejected while an old I-485 will still be accepted. The simplest approach is to prepare for the earlier date.
Three timelines
What counts is the postmark date or electronic filing date, not the date USCIS receives it.
- Mailed or filed online before September 15: old editions are fine (the 08/28/24 edition of the I-539 and the 08/21/25 edition of the I-765)
- On or after September 15: old editions will be rejected; only the 09/15/26 edition is accepted
USCIS has said explicitly that there is no grace period, because the new editions are needed to carry out a new rule. That's why it released preview versions early so you can see the content ahead of time, while also stating not to file with the new edition before September 15.
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Why you need to be especially careful this time
"Rejected" is not the same as "denied." A rejection means the filing doesn't count at all: your documents are returned and no receipt notice is issued.
For the I-765, this could mean a gap in your work authorization. If you're filing for an extension right before your current EAD expires, by the time the package is returned and you refile, you may have missed the window for the automatic extension. For the I-539, if you're filing an extension before your lawful status expires, your status may have expired by the time you refile.
This doesn't mean something will definitely go wrong, but whether your mailing date falls on September 14 or 15 could make a big difference.
What changed this time
USCIS says the new editions are needed to implement a recently published final rule. The announcement itself doesn't list which fields on the forms changed. The preview versions are already out, so you can compare them yourself.