USCIS Will Only Accept Revised Version of Form I-539, as of 22 Mar 2019

The application to extend / change nonimmigrant status (form I-539) is undergoing several significant changes. Effective March 22, 2019, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will only accept the updated version of the form. In addition, a new supplement, form I-539A, will be released, and stakeholders will need to include the supplement if the accompanying form I-539 includes any co-applicants. Both the revised form I-539 and the I-539A supplement are scheduled to be published on March 8, 2019. While the official forms are not yet released, draft versions of the updated form I-539 and form I-539A can be found online.

Only New Version of Form I-539 Accepted, Effective 22 Mar 2019

Beginning March 8, 2019 – which is the date the new version of form I-539 will be published – through the close of business on March 21, 2019, the USCIS will accept either the current version of form I-539 or the new version. If the USCIS receives the current version of the form on or after March 22, 2019, the case will be rejected. This applies regardless of the date the application actually was mailed.

Revised Form Requires Additional Fee and Biometric Appointment for Each Applicant

The following significant changes are being made to the I-539 application process:

• Every co-applicant included on the primary applicant’s form I-539 must submit and sign a separate I-539A, which will be available on the form I-539 webpage on March 11th. Parents or guardians may sign on behalf of children under age 14 or for any co-applicant who is not mentally competent to sign.
• Every applicant and co-applicant must pay an $85 biometric services fee, except certain A, G, and NATO nonimmigrants.
• Every applicant and co-applicant, regardless of age, will receive a biometric services appointment notice containing their individual receipt numbers. The biometric services appointments will be scheduled at the application support center (ASC) closest to the primary applicant’s address. Co-applicants who wish to be scheduled at different ASC locations should file separate I-539 forms.

Conclusion

Not only is the I-539 process about to become more expensive, these revisions will also make the process more arduous by requiring applicants to attend biometric appointments.

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