Timing for Extending or Changing Visa Status at Thanksgiving 2025

With Thanksgiving falling on Thursday, November 27, 2025, the holiday week will ripple through the immigration system just as many students, workers, and families try to protect their visa status. The quiet closure of federal offices on the holiday, and reduced operations on surrounding days, means applications to extend or change stay will face slower intake and delayed mail processing.

For people whose I-94 or existing status is close to expiring in late November, timing can be unforgiving: USCIS must receive filings before the current authorized stay ends, and a late delivery—even by a day—can put someone out of status. Officials plan to keep online tools available through the week, but the standard flow of receipt notices and updates will likely slow. Applicants are being told to plan for 2 to 4 extra business days for notices during Thanksgiving week.

USCIS staffing and operational slowdowns

USCIS operations will pause on the holiday itself and run with limited staff on Wednesday, November 26, and Friday, November 28. That slower pace affects in-person appointments and back-office handling, from lockbox intake to print-and-mail functions.

While the agency’s website remains open for online submissions, new intake entries and mail sorting often wait until the following Monday. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, that delay compounds quickly for people already on tight timelines, especially those who rely on courier delivery or school-based authorizations that also slow down for the break.

College international offices and many immigration practices cut hours or close entirely during the week, complicating students’ plans to switch categories or request new documents tied to school calendars.

Important: USCIS counts the date it receives the application, not the postmark date. A package mailed on Tuesday may not arrive until after Thanksgiving if carriers face weather issues or pre-holiday backlogs.

How this affects different groups

Students, workers, and dependents face distinct risks during Thanksgiving week.

Students changing to F-1 from visitor status
– The change of status requires Form I-539 and an I-20 from the school.
– With Designated School Officials (DSOs) out or on limited hours, getting an I-20 issued or updated can take longer than usual.
– If the planned program start date is too soon, USCIS may not act in time; many international offices advise starting steps in early November to create a safe margin.

Students moving to H-1B
– International travel before a change of status is approved is treated as abandoning the pending change.
– This risk is amplified by holiday travel volume and slower processing.

H-1B and L-1 workers
– Employers filing extensions with Form I-129 should file 15 to 30 days before the end of status to help maintain continuous employment authorization.
– Premium processing shortens decision time but still requires room for 1 to 2 days of delay if the premium window overlaps Thanksgiving.

Dependents (H-4, L-2, F-2)
– Dependent filings often mirror the principal’s case; submitting them together is safest.
– If dependents are filed separately, a mail backlog could cause one family member to fall out of status while the principal remains fine.

Mail and courier constraints

• There are no mail deliveries on Thursday, and some areas see limited service on Friday and Saturday.
• Black Friday shipping spikes add to carrier congestion.
• Best practice: send on Monday or Tuesday with overnight service and avoid Wednesday if possible.

If you’ve already mailed a package, watch tracking closely. If a promised delivery slips, consider filing an online version where permitted (and if it won’t create duplicate filings).

Online filing: advantages and caveats

Several common forms can be filed electronically:
– Form I-539 — change or extension of nonimmigrant stay (some categories eligible for online filing)
– Form I-765 — employment authorization renewals
– Form I-131 — advance parole requests
– Form I-90 — green card replacements

Benefits of online filing:
– Eliminates mail delivery risk.
– Provides instant filing confirmation for employers and schools.

Caveats:
– Processing still pauses on federal holidays; online submission removes delivery risk but not back-office slowdowns.
– Employers filing Form I-129 for H-1B/L-1 extensions often use paper-based processes and premium processing; employers must coordinate timing.

Official resources and notices

USCIS posts closures and special notices on its site. The agency’s Office Closings page lists weather and holiday impacts and is a quick way to check local office status before heading out:
– USCIS Office Closings

Key form links to confirm eligibility, fees, and filing options:
– Form I-539
– Form I-765
– Form I-131
– Form I-90
– Form I-129
– Form AR-11

No automatic grace period — tracking screenshots aren’t sufficient

There is no automatic grace period if a package arrives late due to postal delay. USCIS stamps the file as received when it physically arrives, not when it was mailed.

• A gap between expiration and arrival can count as an overstay with real consequences.
• Tracking screenshots showing “in transit” before a deadline do not change USCIS’s receipt date rules.
• Keep delivery confirmations for records, but they don’t fix a missed deadline.

Common pitfalls and defensive steps

Common missteps:
– Waiting until after Thanksgiving to file when near an expiration date.
– Traveling abroad with a pending change of status (risk of abandonment).
– Failing to file Form AR-11 after moving and losing mailed notices.

Protective actions:
1. File early — many lawyers recommend 10 to 14 days before Thanksgiving, and some precise target dates below.
2. File online where possible.
3. If mailing, use a trackable courier, keep delivery confirmations, and avoid sending time-sensitive filings on Wednesday.
4. Bundle dependent filings with the principal petition and use the same courier.
5. Update address promptly with Form AR-11.

Practical timing suggestions

These are not hard rules but give safer windows:
– Aim for receipt by November 21 or earlier for any filing with an end-of-month expiration.
– Send physical documents by Monday, November 24, to land in the system before the holiday week.
– For change-of-status via I-539, start in early November so DSOs can act before the break.
– Premium processing petitions filed before Saturday, November 22, are less likely to overlap the closure.
– For basic extensions, a November 15 target gives breathing room.

Receipt notices and interim proof

Even with an on-time filing, receipt notices may take 2 to 4 extra business days to arrive. For many categories, a pending receipt protects stay while USCIS works the case, but lack of a physical receipt can complicate:
– Employer I-9 reverifications
– DMV or state ID renewals

Store online confirmation pages or file-stamped copies as interim proof while mail is delayed.

Travel warnings

Travel is the most common avoidable problem:
– Leaving the U.S. before a change of status is approved can abandon the request.
– This is particularly risky for transitions like F-1 to H-1B or B-2 to F-1.
– Check travel rules tied to your case type before booking flights.

Organizational responses

• Universities: DSOs warn students in early November to secure I-20s, update SEVIS, and prepare filings before the holiday.
• Employers: HR teams often finalize petition packages early and may set internal cutoffs well before Thanksgiving week.
• Law firms: set client intake deadlines to avoid lockbox delays.

Final takeaways and checklist

The agency’s message is straightforward: file early and rely on official channels for updates. The long holiday weekend is a time to rest—not to wait on a courier update that will not come until Monday.

Quick checklist:
– File early — give days of buffer, not hours.
– Use online filing when available and confirm the correct category in the portal.
– Mail only on Monday/Tuesday with overnight service if necessary; avoid Wednesday shipments.
– Bundle principal and dependent filings where possible.
– Keep trackable courier receipts and online confirmations.
– Avoid international travel while a change of status is pending.
– Update your address with Form AR-11 if needed.
– Check USCIS Office Closings before visiting an office.

Timing slips during Thanksgiving week can cause months of trouble later. If Thanksgiving is on your calendar, so should an early filing date: give USCIS enough time to receive your case before your current stay expires.