F-1, J and I Rule Paused: Which I-539 and I-765 Editions USCIS Accepts

USCIS updated its Form I-539 and Form I-765 pages after a Sept. 14, 2026 federal court order in *Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, et al. v. DHS*, case number 26-cv-13799 (D. Mass.).

The short version

USCIS says the court postponed the effective date of DHS’s final rule on fixed admission periods for F students, J exchange visitors and I foreign media representatives. While the order remains in place, USCIS says DHS is preliminarily enjoined from taking further action to implement the rule and USCIS will proceed under the previous regulatory provisions.

Which form editions USCIS says to use

USCIS says it continues to accept:

• Form I-539 edition 08/28/24; and
• Form I-765 edition 08/21/25.

USCIS also says it is not accepting the 09/15/26 editions of Forms I-539 and I-765 while the Sept. 14 order controls. That is the practical filing point for students, exchange visitors and related employment-authorization filings: check the live USCIS form page before using a saved PDF or old link.

What rule was paused

DHS’s final rule, published in the Federal Register as 91 FR 44976 on July 17, 2026, would replace “duration of status” with fixed admission periods and extension-of-stay procedures for F, J and I nonimmigrants.

The USCIS form-page alert says the effective date is postponed pending further order of the court or resolution of the case on the merits. USCIS also says DHS strongly disagrees with the order and, if the order is lifted, will take measures to implement the final rule.

What this does not mean

• It does not mean the litigation is over.
• It does not mean every F, J or I issue is automatically fixed.
• It does not replace the instructions on the current USCIS Form I-539 or Form I-765 pages.
• It is not individualized legal advice for OPT, STEM OPT, reinstatement, extension of stay, travel or change-of-status decisions.

October 2026 mailing-address change (separate from the court order)

USCIS announced on Oct. 7 that it changed the mailing locations for Forms I-539 and I-765. This is a separate filing-address update; it does not lift the Sept. 14 court order or change the edition dates described above. If filing by mail, consult the current I-539 filing addresses or current I-765 filing addresses for the correct destination based on your filing reason. Both USCIS address pages say they will accept forms postmarked on or before Nov. 9, 2026, sent to a prior filing location during the grace period. Do not rely on a saved mailing label; check the current official instructions when filing.

What to check before filing

Before filing, check:

• the current USCIS Form I-539 page;
• the current USCIS Form I-765 page;
• your I-94, I-20 or DS-2019; and
• your school DSO, program sponsor, licensed immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative if timing matters.

Related ImmigroNews coverage

• F-1 duration-of-status rule blocked: what international students need to know
• Major US immigration policy changes in 2026

Official sources

• USCIS Form I-539 page
• USCIS Form I-765 page
• USCIS I-539 filing addresses
• USCIS I-765 filing addresses
• Federal Register: DHS final rule for F, J and I nonimmigrants

*This article is general immigration information, not legal advice. The filing notes above are based on the USCIS form-page alerts and Federal Register source linked above.*