International students, green card applicants and other U.S. visa seekers are facing several important immigration changes this week, including new USCIS form editions, the scheduled overhaul of the student-visa admission system and the transition into a new fiscal year for employment-based immigrant visas.
However, one of the most significant changes has been put on hold at the last minute. A federal judge in Massachusetts on September 14 blocked the Trump administration from implementing its new rule replacing the long-standing “Duration of Status” system for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors and certain foreign media representatives.
Here are the three developments applicants and international students should know about.
1. New I-539 and I-765 forms take effect September 15
USCIS is moving to new editions of Form I-539, used for applications including extensions or changes of nonimmigrant status, and Form I-765, used to apply for employment authorization.
Beginning September 15, 2026, USCIS will require applicants to use the new editions. Older versions generally will not be accepted after the effective date, and USCIS has said there will be no grace period for the older editions.
The change is particularly relevant to international students and other nonimmigrants because Form I-765 is used for employment authorization, including applications connected with Optional Practical Training.
Applicants preparing filings around the deadline should therefore verify the edition date of the form before submitting it.
A filing using an outdated form could be rejected rather than processed, potentially creating additional delays for applicants facing employment or immigration-status deadlines.
READ: Texas keeps expired US visa acceptable for driver’s license ID (September 13, 2026)
2. DHS rule ending “Duration of Status” has been blocked
The second development concerns a major DHS rule that was scheduled to take effect September 15.
The rule would have replaced the decades-old Duration of Status, or D/S, system for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors with fixed admission periods. Under the rule, students would generally receive a specific admission end date based on their academic program, with a maximum period of four years for new admissions.
The rule also would have changed procedures involving extensions of stay, international travel, school transfers and changes in academic programs.
One of the most consequential provisions would have reduced the F-1 post-completion departure grace period from 60 days to 30 days.
But the rule did not take effect as scheduled.
U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor issued a preliminary injunction on September 14, blocking the administration from implementing the rule while the legal challenge proceeds. The ruling came one day before the scheduled effective date.
The judge questioned DHS’ justification for replacing the existing system and said the current D/S framework had enabled tens of millions of students and researchers to study and work in the United States over nearly five decades.
The ruling means the current D/S framework remains in place for now, rather than the new fixed-admission system taking effect September 15.
The case remains important for Indian students because the proposed rule could have significantly changed how F-1 students plan degree programs, OPT, international travel and extensions of stay.
READ: US student visas: What Indian students need to know in 2026 (September 13, 2026)
3. Green card applicants enter a new visa-number cycle
The third major development is the transition from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2027 on October 1.
The State Department’s Visa Bulletin determines when applicants in family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant categories can move forward based on their priority dates. The September 2026 bulletin represents the final month of fiscal year 2026, with the next bulletin beginning a new annual allocation cycle.
That transition is particularly important for Indian employment-based green card applicants because visa availability in categories such as EB-1 and EB-2 has faced significant pressure.
The September bulletin shows that employment-based immigrant visa availability remains constrained for Indian applicants, while the new fiscal year could bring changes in cutoff dates as fresh annual visa numbers become available.
Applicants should not assume that a new fiscal year automatically means that every Indian employment-based category will become current. Movement depends on demand, available visa numbers and the State Department’s assessment of future usage.
What Indian students and visa applicants should know
For Indian students, the immediate issue is distinguishing between changes that actually take effect and changes that have been delayed by court action.
The new USCIS editions of Forms I-539 and I-765 are scheduled to become mandatory September 15.
The DHS rule that would have ended D/S, however, has been blocked by a federal court. The existing system therefore remains in place while the litigation continues.
Green card applicants should separately monitor the October Visa Bulletin because the start of fiscal year 2027 can change visa availability and priority-date movement.
For students and workers navigating the U.S. immigration system, the developments underscore the importance of checking the latest USCIS, DHS and State Department guidance rather than relying on previously announced effective dates.