Form I-539 — Extension/Change of Non-immigrant Status (USCIS)
Download the official form
USCIS publishes Form I-539 as a free PDF. Always download the current version directly from USCIS — third-party copies may be outdated.
⚠️ The September 15, 2026 edition change did NOT happen — file the 08/28/24 edition. USCIS had announced (August 14, 2026) that a new 09/15/26 edition of Form I-539 would replace the 08/28/24 edition with no grace period. On September 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts postponed the effective date of the underlying rule and preliminarily enjoined DHS from implementing it (Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, et al. v. DHS, No. 26-cv-13799 (D. Mass.)), so the edition change never took effect. USCIS says it continues to accept the 08/28/24 edition of Form I-539 and is not accepting the 09/15/26 edition. The change could still come back if the court’s order is lifted — DHS says it will implement the rule in that case. Whenever you file, the safe habit is the same: download the form from uscis.gov the day you send it and check the edition date printed in the footer. And if a cutoff is ever in force again, what counts is your postmark or electronic-submission date, not the date USCIS receives it. The same situation applies to Form I-765 if you are filing both together.
- Download Form I-539 (PDF) — official USCIS source
- Download Instructions for Form I-539 (PDF) — read before filling out the form
- File Form I-539 online with USCIS (where supported)
Official USCIS Fee (effective 2024-04-01)
Verified source: Federal Register 2024-01427
Filing fee
- Online filing: $420
- Paper filing: $470
Extend B-1/B-2 visitor, F-1 student, H-4 dependent, etc. Co-applicant family members ride the single filing fee — no per-person charge.
Verify current fee
⚠️ USCIS fees can change. Verify the current fee before filing at:
- USCIS Fee Calculator — official tool
- USCIS Form G-1055 — full schedule
Form I-539: Non-immigrant Status Extension/Change
Form I-539 is used when already in US with non-immigrant status (visitor, student, etc.) and want to:
- Extend the duration of that status
- Change to another non-immigrant status (e.g., B-2 visitor to F-1 student)
Who does NOT use I-539
- Work statuses H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc. — use I-129
- Green card change — use I-485 (AOS)
- If already past permitted period — generally don’t qualify (need to leave and re-apply)
Eligible statuses for I-539
- B-1/B-2 business/pleasure visitor
- F-1/F-2 student / student dependent
- M-1/M-2 vocational / dependent
- H-4 H-1B dependent
- L-2 L-1 dependent
- TN/TD NAFTA professional / dependent
- R-2 religious dependent
Fee 2024
- $470 paper filing ($420 online) — biometrics are included in the filing fee
- Family: a spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be co-applicants on the same I-539 (one Form I-539A each) at no extra filing fee
- Verify uscis.gov/i-539
USCIS processing time
- 3-12 months processing
- Must apply BEFORE I-94 expires — no exceptions
Evidence
- Valid passport + current I-94
- Valid reason for extending (still visitor, in course of study, etc.)
- Sufficient funds evidence
- “Non-immigrant intent” proof (don’t want to stay permanently)
- If changing to F-1: school DSO Form I-20 + SEVIS
Common errors
- Applying after I-94 expired
- Insufficient “non-immigrant intent” evidence
- Missing funds evidence
- Confusing visa extension (at consulate) with I-539 (in US)
Current USCIS processing times
USCIS publishes 80%-completion processing times per form, category, and service center. Times are updated monthly — verify the live data before relying on a deadline.
| Category | Office | 80% complete within |
|---|---|---|
| All other change of status applications | National Benefits Center | 1 Week |
| All other extension of stay applications | National Benefits Center | 6.5 Months |
| All other change of status applications | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 8 Months |
| Change of status to H4 dependents | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 8.5 Months |
| Change of status to L dependent | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 10.5 Months |
| Extension of stay for B nonimmigrant | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 6.5 Months |
| Extension of stay for F or M students and J exchange visitor category | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 4 Months |
| Extension of stay for H4 dependents with I-765 | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 3.5 Months |
| Extension of stay for L dependents | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 6.5 Months |
Source: USCIS egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/. Data captured 2026-05-26. Verify current data before filing.
Recursos / Resources
Last verified: 2026-09-16.
General information — not legal advice.
Related procedural information
- Consulate of your country in the US — passport renewal, consular ID, document apostille
- ITIN — file federal taxes without SSN — for people with a US filing or reporting obligation who aren’t eligible for an SSN
- USCIS form library — federal immigration forms (I-130, I-485, N-400, etc.)
- Find an immigration attorney — pro bono lists + AILA + BIA-recognized
- Know Your Rights — ICE encounters — constitutional protections