What people are saying about the I-539

What people report

• Poster received DS-2019 and has under 3 months before F-1 status expires, with institution requiring continued visa status.
• received DS-2019 and has less than 3 months before F-1 expires; discovered J-1 with J-2 co-applicant requires uploading and no premium processing

Threads to read

• Asks whether “immigrant petition ever filed for you” on Form I-539 should be answered YES when an I-140 is approved for the beneficiary but the change of status requested is B-2. r/h1b · 13 comments
• Asks how to file I-539 for F-1 to J-1 (with spouse F-2 to J-2) given the time-sensitive F-1 expiration and no premium processing. r/USCIS · 1 comments
• Asks about changing status from H-4 to F-1 before aging out and what financial evidence USCIS accepts for the I-539. r/f1visa · 1 comments

What people report

• Receipt notice for the I-539 extension was received from the National Benefits Center (NBC) a couple of weeks ago.
• Filed I-539 for H1B → B2 COS on June 10, 2026; received receipt notice June 13, 2026; still pending after ~3.5 months.
• Received the I-539 receipt notice from the National Benefits Center (NBC) a couple of weeks ago.

Threads to read

• User asks where to track similar I-539 timeline cases and compares recent NBC processing time to longer estimates. r/immigration · 4 comments
• User asks for 2026 timelines for I-539 H1B→B2 COS pending over 3.5 months, including RFE/approval, expediting, and employer actions. r/h1b · 2 comments
• Asks where to track similar I-539 cases and whether a fast NBC timeline means anything compared with much longer processing time estimates. r/USCIS · 1 comments

What people report

• CBP admitted her on B1/B2 for only 30 days; her I-94 shows an Admit Until date of Oct 28, 2026.
• CBP admitted the parent on B1/B2 for only 30 days, and the I-94 “admit until” date is about a month after entry.

Threads to read

• Asking whether to file Form I-539 to extend a B1/B2 stay after receiving only 30 days, and what evidence and timing to use. r/USCIS · 29 comments
• CBP gave a B1/B2 visitor only 30 days; the poster asks whether to file I-539 and what evidence and timing help get an extension. r/immigration · 9 comments
• Post references an O-3 dependent status filing using Form I-539 at the National Benefits Center. r/USCIS · 1 comments

What people report

• Received an RFE for a lapsed I-20 program start date; instructed to defer the start date in SEVIS and reissue the I-20 on the same SEVIS ID, with response due early November.

Threads to read

• User received an RFE for an H-1B to F-1 I-539 premium change of status due to a lapsed I-20 start date and asks about deferring the start date, approval timing, and employment risk. r/USCIS · 1 comments
• User on H-1B filed premium I-539 to F-1 and received an RFE for a lapsed I-20 start date, seeking guidance on deferred I-20 timing and next steps. r/h1b · 0 comments
• H-1B to F-1 premium COS was RFE’d for a lapsed I-20 start date; user asks best deferred start timing, approval chances, and whether to stop H-1B employment while pending. r/f1visa · 0 comments

Threads to read

• Asks whether they can safely leave the U.S. on international flights while I-539 is pending but I-94 and visa are expired, and what steps to follow. r/USCIS · 11 comments
• User with a pending I-539, expired I-94 and visa asks if they can safely leave the U.S. without returning and what steps to take if stopped. r/AskImmigration · 10 comments
• User asks whether it’s safe to leave the country on international flights while an I-539 is pending with an expired I-94 and visa, and how to avoid detention risk. r/immigration · 6 comments

What people report

• Received three USCIS emails saying action was taken, but the USCIS online account shows an error retrieving data and the case status page still shows 'Case received'.

Threads to read

• USCIS sent emails saying action was taken, but the online account shows an unknown data-retrieval error and the case status appears unchanged. r/USCIS · 7 comments
• User asks whether it is normal for an I-539A receipt number to show as invalid and not track on the USCIS website while the I-539 receipt works. r/USCIS · 1 comments

What people report

• After B1/B2 violations, CBP refused admission, detained him overnight, and removed him; his B1/B2 visa was cancelled and a 5-year bar was issued; USCIS later sent a NOID on an old I-539.

Threads to read

• Professional musician removed after B1/B2 violations faces a 5-year bar, a NOID on a prior I-539, and asks which waivers are needed to pursue an O-1 return. r/AskImmigration · 5 comments

Threads to read

• User asks about H-1B premium change of status approval timing when an H-4 COS (I-539) and H-4 EAD (I-765) are still pending. r/h1b · 0 comments