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USCIS Announces Revised Form I-539 and new I-539A Supplement Requiring Additional Fee for Fingerprinting

Today USCIS announced that a revised Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status will be published on its website on March 11, 2019. Starting on that date, USCIS will only accept the revised Form I-539. Form I-539 is commonly used for dependents of the H-1B visa applicant who is adjusting from one status to another visa status, or for dependents who must extend their current H-4 status.

In addition, USCIS will be publishing a new Form I-539A, Supplemental Information for Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, which can only be submitted with an I-539 and not as a standalone form.

According to USCIS, below are the significant changes to the revised Form I-539:

  • Every co-applicant included on the primary applicant’s Form I-539 must submit and sign a separate Form I-539A, which will be available on the Form I-539 webpage on March 11. Parents or guardians may sign on behalf of children under 14 or any co-applicant who is not mentally competent to sign.
  • Every applicant and co-applicant must pay an $85 biometric services fee, except certain A, G, and NATO nonimmigrants as noted in the new Form I-539 Instructions to be published on March 11.
  • 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.”