I-539Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
“Pursuant to the Sept. 14, 2026, order, USCIS continues to accept the 08/28/24 edition of Form I-539 and 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765 and is not accepting the 09/15/26 edition of Forms I-539 and I-765.”uscis.gov, Form I-539 page · checked 2026-11-02
- Source
- uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-539.pdf
- Size
- 495,022 bytes
- SHA-256
- Revision (page)
- Edition Date 08/28/24
- Revision (footer)
- Form I-539 Edition 08/28/24 ✓ match
- Fetched
- 2026-11-02 06:15 UTC
Form I-539 is the application for a nonimmigrant in the United States to extend their stay or change to another nonimmigrant status, and in some situations to apply for an initial nonimmigrant status or F-1/M-1 student reinstatement. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 in the same status can be co-applicants, each with their own Form I-539A. USCIS generally expects the application before the current authorized stay expires and suggests filing at least 45 days, but generally not more than six months, ahead. Editions matter: USCIS's I-539 page currently says it accepts the 08/28/24 edition and is not accepting the 09/15/26 edition, under a September 2026 court order. USCIS lists I-539 for guided online filing.
How to file Form I-539
USCIS online account (guided)
USCIS lists I-539 for guided online filing (co-applicants create their own accounts on myUSCIS). USCIS notes a fee discount for certain forms filed online.
“Online filers should follow the instructions on myUSCIS (my.uscis.gov) to create accounts and complete the Form I-539.”
Open on uscis.govMail a paper application
Mail it with each co-applicant's I-539A, the fee and evidence to the address on uscis.gov/i-539. Check the edition notice on that page first.
Why our filler is off for this form: USCIS says its forms are optimized for Adobe Acrobat Reader, and part of this PDF is read-only by design (copied headers, barcodes, signature boxes). We turn our fill on per form only after the output re-opens in Acrobat Reader with every value intact and a matching barcode. Until then, Adobe Reader on a computer is the free tool USCIS points to.
Print, sign in ink, scan, send
USCIS does not accept signatures made by software, so the dependable path is paper first, then a clean PDF under the online limit. Every step below runs in your browser.
- PrintThe official I-539 PDF from uscis.gov, every page from the same edition.
- Sign by handIn the signature box, in ink. USCIS: “USCIS does not accept signatures created by a typewriter, word processor, stamp, auto-pen, or similar device.”
- Scan to PDFPhone camera pages, deskewed and cleaned, in this tab.
- MergeForm and evidence in the order the instructions ask for.
- Under 12 MBCompressed to the USCIS online upload limit, with a preview first.
Sources: USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 1, Part B, Ch. 2 (signatures) · uscis.gov/file-online/tips-for-filing-forms-online (12 MB) · checked 2026-10-05
Line help for Form I-539
Plain-language notes written from the official instructions, with the place each one comes from. Informational, not legal advice.
Your names, A-Number and online account number if any, address, birth details, I-94 number and current nonimmigrant status with its expiration date.
Form I-539 (08/28/24), Part 1Extension of stay, change of status (to which category), reinstatement, or initial status, and how many people the application covers.
Form I-539 (08/28/24), Part 2The date you are asking to stay until, and whether the request is based on a related petition or application.
Form I-539 (08/28/24), Part 3Passport details, foreign address, and yes/no questions on topics such as immigrant petitions and employment. Answer each one and explain any 'yes' in Part 8.
Form I-539 (08/28/24), Part 4Your contact information, certification and handwritten signature.
Form I-539 (08/28/24), Part 5Only if someone helped; Part 8 for explanations.
Form I-539 (08/28/24), Parts 6–8Before your stay expires.
File before the authorized stay ends; USCIS suggests at least 45 days ahead and generally not more than six months. A late filing may be excused only on the conditions the instructions list.
“We suggest you file at least 45 days, but generally not more than 6 months, before your stay expires.”
Form I-539 Instructions (08/28/24), When Should I Use Form I-539?One I-539A per co-applicant.
Each co-applicant completes and signs a separate I-539A; a parent or guardian may sign for a child.
“Each co-applicant included on your Form I-539 must complete a separate Form I-539A.”
Form I-539 Instructions (08/28/24), Multiple ApplicantsHand-signed; a scan of it counts.
Sign by hand. USCIS accepts a copy or scan of the original hand-signed page.
USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 1, Part B, Ch. 2Revision history
We check the USCIS form page and its edition statement every day, and USCIS’s sitemap for preview files of new editions. This list starts when our crawler first saw the form.
| Edition | Status | Fields |
|---|---|---|
| Edition 08/28/24 | Current | baseline |
- Preview_Form_I-539_9-15-26_Edition_USCIS_WILL_REJECT_IF_POSTMARKED_BEFORE_09-15-26.pdf · first seen 2026-10-05
Related forms
I-765
USCIS is not accepting the 09/15/26 edition. The edition it lists today is 08/21/25.
I-134
USCIS lists the 01/20/25 edition on its form page.
I-131
USCIS lists the 01/20/25 edition on its form page.
G-1145
USCIS lists the 09/26/14 edition on its form page.
Sources
- USCIS Form I-539 page (edition statement) · checked 2026-10-05
- Form I-539 Instructions (Edition 08/28/24) · checked 2026-10-05
- USCIS, Forms Available to File Online · checked 2026-10-05
- USCIS page for Form I-539 · crawled 2026-11-02
Not affiliated with the IRS, USCIS or any government agency. US federal forms are public domain (17 U.S.C. §105); the line help is ours, written from the instructions. Informational only: not tax or legal advice. If you need help with an immigration case, USCIS explains how to find legitimate legal services: uscis.gov, Find Legal Services.