On March 11, 2019, USCIS will publish a revised Form I-539 with an edition date of February 4, 2019. Effective March 11, USCIS will only accept the new I-539; all previous editions will be rejected. In addition, the agency will introduce a new Form I-539A, Supplemental Information for Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status to change or extend the nonimmigrant status of additional dependents (or “co-applicants”). Each co-applicant must completed and sign a separate Form I-539A.
At the same time, USCIS will require that all I-539 applicants and co-applicants each pay a $85 biometrics fee and have their biometrics taken at a USCIS Application Support Center. However, certain A, G, and NATO nonimmigrants will be exempt from the biometrics requirement. For more information, please refer to USCIS’s news alert.