Overview
- USCIS announced a policy change on September 23 that takes effect October 23, 2026 and ends automatic next‑business‑day extensions for certain deadlines that fall on weekends or federal holidays.
- Electronic filings are treated as received the moment they are submitted, so applicants cannot rely on a weekend or holiday to push an online deadline to the next business day.
- The rule removes next‑business‑day protection for deadlines tied to substantive eligibility, meaning Green Card petitions and Special Immigrant Juvenile filings must arrive before an applicant turns 21.
- H‑1B workers and sponsoring employers should not assume an I‑94 date that falls on a weekend or holiday carries forward and should file extensions before the authorized stay ends.
- Immigration lawyers and reporters advise people to identify whether a deadline is procedural or eligibility‑based, confirm whether forms require paper or electronic filing, and submit early because the guidance replaces the broader 2023 accommodation.