If you are applying for or renewing a U.S. work permit, there is one small detail you need to get right from September 15, 2026: you must use the new version of Form I-765.
USCIS will stop accepting the previous edition after that date.
There is no grace period. If you submit the old form on or after September 15, USCIS can reject the application and you may have to file again.
That matters if you are applying for F-1 OPT or STEM OPT, an H-4 EAD, or work authorization while waiting for a green card.
What is changing?
Starting September 15, 2026, USCIS will accept only the 09/15/26 edition of Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
The previous 08/21/25 edition will no longer be accepted if the application is postmarked or electronically filed on or after September 15.
| What you need to know | |
|---|---|
| Form | I-765, Application for Employment Authorization |
| New edition | 09/15/26 |
| Old edition | 08/21/25 |
| Old edition after September 15 | Rejected |
| Grace period | None |
| Student-related change | New “fixed admission period” rule for F-1, J and I classifications |
So if you have an I-765 PDF sitting on your computer, don’t assume it is still valid just because you downloaded it recently.
Check the edition date before you submit it.
Why this matters if you’re already in the U.S.
The form itself may not look dramatically different. The problem is what happens if you use the wrong version.
Suppose you are:
- applying for OPT or STEM OPT;
- renewing an H-4 EAD; or
- applying for work authorization while your green card application is pending.
You may already be working around a specific employment or immigration deadline.
If USCIS rejects your filing because you used an outdated I-765, you have to correct the problem and submit the application again.
That can cost you valuable time.
For someone whose ability to work depends on that EAD, a rejected application is more than a paperwork annoyance. It can create a real work-authorization problem if you are close to the end of your current authorization.
What is the “fixed admission period” change?
The new I-765 also reflects a change affecting certain students and other nonimmigrant categories.
USCIS is applying a fixed admission period rule to people in the F-1, J and I classifications.
If you are in one of these categories, don’t rely on an old I-765 simply because you have successfully used the form before.
Use the current edition and check the instructions that apply to your specific immigration status.
What should you do now?
Filing on or after September 15? Download the I-765 again from the USCIS website and make sure you are using the 09/15/26 edition.
Already filled out the old version? Transfer your information to the new edition before submitting it. Don’t simply send the old PDF.
Your OPT, STEM OPT or H-4 EAD is expiring soon? Don’t leave the filing until the last minute. If something goes wrong and USCIS rejects the application, you may have much less time to fix it.
Check the date before you file
This is one of those U.S. immigration details that is easy to overlook.
You can have the right eligibility, the right supporting documents and an otherwise complete application, but using a form edition USCIS no longer accepts can still get the filing rejected.
Before you submit your I-765, check the edition date printed on the form.
For applications postmarked or electronically filed from September 15, 2026 onward, use the 09/15/26 edition.
Sources: USCIS: Form I-765 · USCIS Newsroom Alerts
