Starting September 15, 2026, USCIS published revised editions of two forms widely used by students and workers in the US:
1.Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) replaces the 08/28/24 edition
2.Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization, used for OPT, STEM OPT, and other work permits) replaces the 08/21/25 edition
How this affects Nepalis in America:
Any F-1 student, OPT/STEM OPT applicant, J-1 exchange visitor, or their dependents filing Form I-539 or Form I-765 on or after September 15, 2026 must use the brand-new 09/15/26 edition as the old versions will be automatically rejected, with no grace period at all.
Why this is happening now:The form change is tied to a separate DHS final rule (published July 17, 2026) that ends "Duration of Status" (D/S) for F-1, J-1, and I nonimmigrants, replacing it with a fixed expiration date printed directly on the Form I-94. This affects most Nepali international students in the US, who have historically been on D/S rather than a fixed end date.
Who this hits hardest among Nepalis in the US:
1.F-1 students applying for OPT or STEM OPT extensions (Form I-765)
2.F-1/J-1 students seeking to extend or change their nonimmigrant status (Form I-539)
3.Dependents (F-2, J-2) filing for employment authorization or status changes
What to do right now:
1.Check the edition date printed at the bottom of the form on USCIS's official pages before filing anything.
2.If filing use only the 09/15/26 edition, available as a preview on uscis.gov.
3.Do not rely on a form you downloaded or saved weeks ago without rechecking it's current .
