Two cutover dates require careful timing
USCIS has announced edition changes for three heavily used forms in September 2026. Revised Forms I-539 and I-765 take effect on September 15. A revised Form I-485 takes effect on September 18. USCIS says there is no grace period for any of these changes.
The decisive date is when a filing is postmarked or electronically submitted. A form prepared before a deadline can still be rejected if the wrong edition is filed on or after the cutover date. A preview copy is not permission to submit the new edition early.
- Before September 15: USCIS says it will accept the 08/28/24 edition of Form I-539 and the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765.
- On or after September 15: USCIS says it will accept only the 09/15/26 editions of Forms I-539 and I-765.
- Before September 18: USCIS says it will accept the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-485.
- On or after September 18: USCIS says it will accept only the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485.
Do not mix pages or sign too early
Download the form and instructions directly from USCIS on the day you are ready to finalize the package. Confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of every page, keep all pages from the same edition, and review the revised questions before signing.
If a package is close to a transition date, build in time for delivery problems. Keep a complete copy of the signed filing, the payment method, and evidence showing the postmark or electronic submission date.
- Write the planned filing date at the top of your internal checklist.
- Verify the edition again after any delay or rejected payment.
- Use the official form page rather than a saved search result or third-party download.
- Do not submit a preview edition before its announced acceptance date.
What the revisions are connected to
USCIS explains that the I-539 and I-765 revisions align with a final rule establishing fixed periods of admission and extension procedures for certain students, exchange visitors, and foreign-media representatives. The I-485 revision aligns with a new public-charge final rule. Those subjects can involve case-specific legal questions, so this edition alert should not be treated as an eligibility analysis.
- A form edition controls which document USCIS will accept; it does not determine whether a person qualifies.
- Applicants affected by status, public-charge, removal, or admissibility questions should obtain advice from a licensed immigration attorney.