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Immigration Updates

Elimination of Duration of Status for F-1 & J-1 Students

Last Updated: July 27, 2026. This page will continue to be updated as we receive new information.

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule to end “duration of status” (D/S) and establish a fixed period of stay for F-1 and J-1 international students. The scheduled effective date of this new rule is September 15, 2026.

What stays the same: As an F-1 student, you are still required to maintain your status by following the F-1 rules. In addition, your status is still distinct from your visa. A visa is ​a travel document used to enter the US, while your status is your legal permission to stay inside the country.

What changes: F-1 students were previously admitted to the United States for an unspecified amount of time—known as duration of status (D/S)—to pursue a full course of study or to engage in practical training after their studies. Students could remain in the United States under duration of status as long as they followed the rules of their immigration category.

Under the new rule, F-1 students will be admitted to the United States for a fixed period of time, either the program end date on their I-20 or four years—whichever is shorter. This fixed period will be indicated by a specific “Admit Until Date” (AUD) on each student’s Form I-94.

For undergraduate students, the new rule will:

  • Remove the D/S notation currently given to students on their I-94 arrival record, and replace it with a fixed “Admit Until Date” (AUD).
  • Give students a fixed period of admission to the United States based on the length of their program. This fixed period will extend until the completion of their program or four years, whichever is shorter.
  • Require students to submit an Extension of Stay (EOS) application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend their stay, if additional time is needed.
  • Reduce the 60-day grace period for F-1 students to 30 days (for any students who travel and re-enter the U.S. after September 15, 2026).
  • Prohibit undergraduate students from changing academic programs (majors) and transferring to a different school within the first year of study.
  • Prohibit all students from completing another degree at the same, or lower, academic level. After completing a degree program, students can only move to a higher degree level.

For graduate students, the new rule will:

  • Remove the D/S notation currently given to students on their I-94 arrival record, and replace it with a fixed “Admit Until Date” (AUD).
  • Give students a fixed period of admission to the United States based on the length of their program. This fixed period will extend until the completion of their program or four years, whichever is shorter.
  • Require students to submit an Extension of Stay (EOS) application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend their stay, if additional time is needed.
  • Reduce the 60-day grace period for F-1 students to 30 days (for any students who travel and re-enter the U.S. after September 15, 2026).
  • Prohibit F-1 graduate students from changing academic programs or transferring to a different school in the U.S. at any point in their degree program.
  • Prohibit all students from completing another degree at the same, or lower, academic level. After completing a degree program, students can only move to a higher degree level.

More information to come.

Transition Period & Travel Considerations

If you are present in the United States on September 15, 2026, and were admitted under duration of status (D/S), you may remain in the United States until the Program End Date on your Form I-20, or until the end of your post-completion OPT or STEM OPT period (as long as it is approved and valid on the final rule’s effective date). Your total period of stay may not extend beyond Nov. 14, 2030 (four years from the rule’s effective date, plus a 60-day departure period). If you need additional time in the U.S. beyond this point to pursue your studies or pursue post-completion OPT or STEM OPT, you must apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

If you travel and return the United States after September 15, 2026, you may be admitted with a new fixed period of admission, which is the Program End Date on your Form I-20, up to a maximum of four years (plus a 30-day departure period).

Key Takeaways

The Admit Until Date (AUD) on your Form I-94 will now determine how long you can stay in the United States. Please regularly check and familiarize yourself with your I-94 record. If you need additional time, please contact ISS and plan to submit any necessary applications before your Admit Until Date (AUD) arrives.

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