Filing After September 15? The Wrong Form Edition Will Get Your Case Rejected
An immigration application can be complete, properly signed, supported by the right evidence, and accompanied by the correct fee, yet still be rejected because you used the wrong edition of the form.
That risk is particularly important this September.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is introducing new editions of three widely used immigration forms within four days. If you have an application prepared but not yet filed, check the edition date before sending it.
September 15: New I-539 and I-765 Editions
Beginning September 15, 2026, USCIS will accept only the 09/15/26 editions of:
Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
For filings postmarked or submitted electronically on or after September 15, USCIS will reject the previous 08/28/24 edition of Form I-539 and the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765.
There is no grace period.
USCIS has explained that the revised forms are necessary to implement the new fixed-period-of-admission rule. That means applicants cannot rely on the common transition period during which both the old and new form editions may be temporarily accepted.
September 18: Form I-485 Changes Too
Three days later, another major filing change.
Beginning September 18, USCIS will accept the new 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Older editions will be rejected when filed on or after that date.
That makes September 18 particularly consequential for adjustment applicants. Anyone preparing an I-485 this month should confirm that the entire filing reflects the requirements in effect on the actual filing date, not simply those that applied when preparation began.
A Rejection Is More Than an Inconvenience
When USCIS rejects a filing, the application generally has not been properly filed. Correcting the form and sending the package again does not necessarily preserve the original filing date.
Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, that lost time can matter.
A rejection could contribute to a gap in status, delay eligibility for employment authorization, or affect unlawful presence calculations. Someone relying on a filing deadline or expiration date may have considerably more at stake than the inconvenience of printing a new form.
Before You Send a September Filing
If an immigration package is sitting on your desk, do not assume the forms are still current simply because they were downloaded recently.
Before filing:
Check the edition date printed on every USCIS form.
Compare it with the edition USCIS currently accepts.
Confirm the edition that will be required on the date you actually file.
Review whether USCIS has announced a grace period for older editions.
Do not reuse a saved form from an earlier application without checking it.
Recheck filing fees, addresses, signatures, and required evidence at the same time.
A final review is especially important when a filing date falls close to a USCIS transition.
The New Yorkimmigration attorneys at Sharma Law Associates help individuals, families, and employers prepare immigration filings in response to changing USCIS requirements. If you are planning to file Form I-539, I-765, or I-485 this September, call 646-846-4221,contact us online, or schedule a consultation before an outdated form turns a timely application into a rejected one.
