Green card applicants, international students, and visa seekers face one of the most consequential weeks of the year as the Trump administration rolls out a series of changes to the legal immigration system. The developments include new immigration forms taking effect on September 15 and September 18, a revised public-charge framework for some green card applicants, and the anticipated release of the October Visa Bulletin, traditionally one of the most closely watched immigration updates of the year because it marks the beginning of a new fiscal year. For many applicants, the timing is significant.
The changes arrive just as the government prepares to begin fiscal year 2027 on October 1, when annual immigrant visa allocations are reset, and new visa numbers become available. The first major change takes effect September 15, when the Department of Homeland Security implements a new framework governing admission periods for certain F, J, and I nonimmigrants. Citizenship and Immigration Services will require new editions of Form I-539, used by eligible nonimmigrants to extend or change status, and Form I-765, used to apply for employment authorization.
USCIS will not accept the older editions after September 15 and will not provide a grace period for their use. The changes stem from a DHS final rule replacing the longstanding "duration of status" framework for F students, J exchange visitors, and I foreign media representatives with fixed periods of admission ending on a specified date. Under the previous framework, many F-1 students were admitted for the duration of their status rather than receiving an I-94 with a specific expiration date.
Under the new system, covered nonimmigrants will generally receive a specified period of admission, with procedures available to request an extension when additional time is needed. The rule primarily affects international students, exchange visitors and foreign media representatives. DHS has said the new framework will replace the duration-of-status system with specific admission periods and establish a formal process for seeking additional time in the United States.
Applicants filing Form I-539 or Form I-765 on or after September 15 should make sure they are using the new editions dated September 15, 2026. USCIS has said that filings using the previous editions after that date will be rejected. Another significant change arrives on September 18, when U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services begins requiring a new edition of Form I-485, the application used by eligible immigrants seeking lawful permanent residence through adjustment of status. The new edition becomes mandatory September 18. USCIS has said older editions will be rejected if they are postmarked or electronically submitted on or after that date.
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