The changes take effect on April 1. The CFI will not be able to accept applications through IACRA until then or "move it along".

Until then your student can still go to an AME, DPE or to the FSDO to apply for and get a Student Pilot certificate on the spot.

After April 1 AMEs, DPEs and the FSDO will no longer be able to issue Student Pilot certificates. After April 1, CFIs, DPEs and the FDSO will be able to accept Student Pilot certificate applications, and the FAA in OKC will subsequently issue them through the mail.

On Monday, March 28, 2016 at 7:48:25 PM UTC-5, Papa3 wrote:
Yeah, I'm the "recommending instructor", but there's no action I can take to move it along. Unlike other times I've used IACRA (for instance recommending a student for a practical test). Wondering whether it will change on Friday; I'll wait and see.