After a number of delays to its launch plan, USCIS implemented an optional ELIS I-539 on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. ELIS (USCIS Electronic Immigration System) is USCIS' fully electronic immigration benefits filing and adjudication system. During the first phase of implementation, beneficiaries and attorneys can create accounts and use ELIS to request the following benefits:
- An extension of status as a: B-1, B-2, M-1, or M-2
- A change of status to: B-1, B-2, F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, or M-2
- A reinstatement of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, or M-2
The paper Form I-539 process will also continue to be available, and filing in ELIS is completely optional at this time. USCIS has stated that it plans to add other form types or functionalities to ELIS every four to six months.
Other Resources
- USCIS ELIS Homepage at http://www.uscis.gov/uscis-elis
- Instructions for Requesting Benefits Using USCIS ELIS (444KB PDF)
- ELIS FAQs
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USCIS Fact Sheet On ELIS I-539 And SEVIS I-20
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ELIS External User Help Content (227-page PDF)
- Proposed I-539 materials: March 28, 2011 Federal Register notice and supporting documents explaining the I-539 Transformation/ELIS process, plus a link to NAFSA’s comment letter on the proposal.
- A NAFSA overview of USCIS ELIS