Green card applicants, international students, and visa seekers face significant changes as the Trump administration introduces updates to the legal immigration system. These changes include new immigration forms effective from September 15 and 18, a revised public-charge policy for some green card applicants, and the anticipated release of the October Visa Bulletin, marking the start of a new fiscal year. These updates coincide with the U.S. government’s preparation for fiscal year 2027, starting on October 1, which resets annual immigrant visa allocations.
Updated I-539 and I-765 Forms
Starting September 15, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will enforce a new admission period framework for certain F, J, and I nonimmigrants. Concurrently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will mandate new editions of Form I-539, used by eligible nonimmigrants to extend or change status, and Form I-765, used for employment authorization applications. Older editions are invalid after September 15, with no grace period.
The DHS has instituted a new rule replacing the longstanding “duration of status” framework for F students, J exchange visitors, and I foreign media representatives. Previously, F-1 students were admitted for their status duration, without a specified I-94 expiration date. Under the new system, nonimmigrants receive a specific admission period, with extension procedures available.
This change primarily impacts international students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives, establishing a formal process for requesting additional time in the U.S. Applicants filing Form I-539 or I-765 on or after September 15 must use the new editions dated September 15, 2026. Older editions used after this date will be rejected.
I-485 Form Update
Another pivotal change begins on September 18 with new requirements for Form I-485, used by immigrants seeking lawful permanent residence through an adjustment of status. The new edition is mandatory from September 18, rejecting older editions postmarked or electronically submitted on or after this date. The updated form requires additional information during the adjustment-of-status process, though statutory eligibility criteria remain unchanged.
Applicants preparing to file for adjustment of status should note the September 18 deadline. New editions of Form I-485 must be used for filings on or after this date, and applicants should confirm USCIS filing instructions and applicable fees before submission.
Public Charge Rules Revision
The DHS has scheduled a new public-charge rule to take effect on September 18. This rule eliminates the 2022 regulations, giving immigration officers more discretion to assess whether an applicant could become a public charge under U.S. immigration law. The regulation applies to admission applications made on or after September 18, and adjustment-of-status applications postmarked or electronically submitted after that date. Benefits received before September 18 are evaluated under the previous 2022 framework.
The new method allows officers to consider an applicant’s circumstances overall, evaluating factors such as age, health, family situation, financial resources, education, and skill set. Receipt of a public benefit does not automatically render an applicant inadmissible; it involves an individualized assessment.
USCIS has outlined separate policy guidance effective September 18 for adjustment-of-status cases. For applicants eligible to file for adjustment of status, September 18 is a critical date, as applications filed from this day will adhere to the new public-charge criteria.
Stephanie Lewin, a partner at Waypoint Immigration USA, mentioned to Newsweek: “With stringent immigration policy changes, applicants need to provide considerable evidence to prove non-public charge status. There’s increased scrutiny, leading to more subjective denials.”
According to immigration experts, one major aspect of the new rule is the increased discretion for officers reviewing applications. Poonam Gupta, principal attorney at Summit Legal PLLC, commented: “The primary misconception is clarity on whether a U.S. citizen child’s benefits affect the parent’s application. Previously, they generally didn’t. Now, it’s uncertain: officers can consider a family’s financial picture, and a child’s benefit use might indirectly impact outcomes.”
Upcoming Visa Bulletin
The State Department plans to release the October Visa Bulletin soon. It is the first bulletin of fiscal year 2027, when annual immigrant visa allocations are reset, creating new availability for employment-based and family-sponsored categories. This bulletin establishes priority-date cutoffs for these categories, impacting adjustment-of-status applicants. The USCIS separately determines the applicable chart for applicants, whether Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates.
October is crucial since annual immigrant visa limits reset with the fiscal year, allowing visa issuance to resume in categories that reached fiscal-year limits. As of September 14, the October bulletin had not been published.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Tobias Meyjes and James Debens.