Washington, D.C., March 5, 2019: USCIS introduced a new Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status dated February 4, 2019, just in time for the H-1B cap season that starts on April 1, 2019.

The new Form I-539 version will be published on March 8, 2019. On or after March 22, 2019, USCIS will only accept the new version of Form I-539 dated February 4, 2019 and will reject all other versions of Form I-539.

USCIS will also be publishing a new Form I-539A, Supplemental Information for Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, on the Form I-539 page on March 8 (replacing Supplement A of Form I-539).

The revised Form I-539 includes the following significant changes:

1.- Every co-applicant included on the primary applicant’s Form I-539 must submit and sign a separate Form I-539A. Parents or guardians may sign on behalf of children under 14 or any co-applicant who is not mentally competent to sign.

2.- Every applicant and co-applicant must pay an $85 biometric services fee (except certain A, G, and NATO nonimmigrants).

3.- Every applicant and co-applicant will receive a biometric services appointment notice, regardless of age, containing their individual receipt number. 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 a different ASC location should file a separate Form I-539.

USCIS will reject any Form I-539 that is missing any of the required signatures or biometrics fees, including those required for Form I-539A.