F-1 and J-1 Students Face New Form I-539 and I-765 Editions for Duration of Status

USCIS will reject older editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 on Sept. 15, 2026, putting F-1 and J-1 students on a new filing calendar as the government moves away from Duration of Status. The cutoff comes fast. It reaches extension filings and work-authorisation cases at once.

The agency made the deadline explicit in an Aug. 14 alert.

There is no grace period for the revised editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 because the revised editions are necessary for USCIS to apply the final rule. USCIS will reject the [older] edition if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 15, 2026.

That leaves no transition window. Older editions stop there.

USCIS said the new forms align with the July 17, 2026 final rule titled "Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media." Under that rule, students are admitted for a fixed period, typically up to 4 years. The clock now runs. It does not stay open-ended.

Before this change, school officials, or DSOs, handled extensions through SEVIS. Now those cases require a formal application to USCIS. PhD candidates and students changing majors may need the extension filing if their programs run past four years. The paperwork moved.

USCIS also updated the work permit instructions for Optional Practical Training. An old edition can trigger rejection and put work authorization or legal status at risk if the Admit Until Date passes. If status expires while a student is trying to refile, unlawful presence can begin. That window is tight.

USCIS drew one hard line.

Paper and online filings turn on different clocks

For paper filings, the postmark date controls. Online filings turn on the submission date in Eastern Time. Both new editions carry an edition date of 09/15/26. Arrival does not matter.