On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the final rule establishing a fixed time period of admission and an extension of stay (EOS) procedure for F and J nonimmigrants that goes into effect on September 15, 2026.

All current and future F-1 and J-1 students will be affected by these changes. A major aspect of the regulation changes is the end of Duration of Status (D/S) and a transition to a fixed end date.

CURRENTLY ENTERING THE U.S. BEFORE SEPTEMBER 15, 2026: DURATION OF STATUS (D/S) TRANSITION

• F and J nonimmigrants who are in the U.S. on the effective date will keep their D/S admission up to their program end date, for a period not to exceed 4 years from September 15, 2026, plus a 60-day grace period for F nonimmigrants and 30-day grace period for J nonimmigrants.
• To keep D/S, students must remain in the U.S. after September 15, 2026 until the end of their current program or the end of their current period of Post-Completion or Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Optional Practical Training (OPT).
• F and J nonimmigrants who enter prior to September 15, 2026 will be admitted to the U.S. for “duration of status” and can remain in the U.S. without any further action until August 16, 2030 if they maintain their immigration status and engage only in permitted activities.
  • If a student is allowed to enter the U.S. based on Duration of Status, they will see the abbreviation “D/S” instead of a date in the Admit Until Date (AUD) section of their Form I-94.

ENTERING THE U.S. ON or AFTER SEPTEMBER 15, 2026: FIXED ADMISSION PERIOD

• F and J nonimmigrants who enter the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026 will be admitted for a fixed period of stay based on the duration of their program, with the maximum period not to exceed 4 years..

SUBSEQUENT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, AND REENTRY: FIXED ADMISSION PERIOD

• The admission period of any F or J nonimmigrant previously admitted for D/S will be transitioned to a fixed date of admission upon travel outside the United States.
• The admission period end date will be determined by the Admit Until Date (AUD) on the F or J nonimmigrant’s most recent I-94 record.
  • ISSS advises student to check their I-94 every time they enter the U.S. to confirm their AUD is correct.
  • Students are advised to provide ISSS with a copy of their most recent I-94 record every time they re-enter the U.S. by completing the I-94 Update form in MyISSS.
    

KEY CHANGES: FIXED ADMISSION PERIOD

Four-Year Maximum for F-1 Students and J-1 Exchange Visitors

• F-1 Students and J-1 Exchange Visitors will be admitted for a maximum of 4 years from their program start date and must apply to USCIS for an extension of stay if more time is needed.
• ESL students will be limited to a lifetime maximum stay of 2 years. 
  

Examples

□   A student seeking a BS in Mechanical Engineering has 4 years to complete the program.

□   A student seeking a 1-Year MBA is limited to the program length of 1 year.

□   A student seeking a PhD in Molecular Biology will be initially admitted for 4 years. They will need to apply to USCIS for an extension if they need more time to complete their degree.

□   A postdoctoral trainee entering the U.S. for a 5-year appointment will be admitted for 4 years and will need to apply to USCIS for an extension for the 5^th year.

USCIS Approval Required for Extensions

• A student or exchange visitor who wants to remain in the U.S. beyond their specified admit until date (AUD) for any reason must file a Form I-539 application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
  • Current students who think they need additional time to complete their degree program beyond their current I-20 or DS-2019 end date need to work with their academic department and advisors to submit a complete Program of Study Extension request in MyISSS no later than August 31,2026 to ensure ISSS can process their request in time.

Examples

□   A student who needs more time to complete their program for academic or health reasons or because their program cannot be completed within 4 years must obtain USCIS approval. 

□    A bachelor’s degree student who completes their degree within 4 years will need approval to extend their stay to participate in OPT. 

Transfers, Program Changes, and Education Level Progression

• F-1 students at the bachelor’s level or below cannot transfer or change educational objectives (i.e., majors) within their first academic year, unless an exception is authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) for extenuating circumstances.
• F-1 students at the graduate level or higher cannot change educational objectives or transfer schools, unless an exception is authorized by SEVP for extenuating circumstances.
• Progression to a higher degree level (e.g., B.S. to M.S.) will require USCIS approval.
• Repeating a degree level and moving from a higher-level to a lower-level degree program are prohibited.

   

Examples

□    A Bachelor’s degree student who is eligible for a 4 + 1 option must apply for and obtain USCIS approval to pursue a Master’s degree.

□    A PhD student whose Faculty Advisor moves from one institution to another will be unable to transfer to follow them.

□    A Master’s student who determines that a more research-focused program better meets their needs will not be able to change programs once they’ve started their studies.

□    A student cannot earn a B.S. in Biology and then pursue a B.S. in Business Administration. 

F-1 Grace Period Reduced from 60 Days to 30 Days

• After completing a program, F-1 students will have 30 days to depart the U.S., file an extension of stay, or file for a change of status.

Examples

□    The window for an OPT application will now close 30 days after graduation.

□    A bachelor’s degree student who wants to go on for a Master’s degree in the U.S. will need to obtain admission to the new program, complete the steps to transfer their F-1 program from the first school to the second, and apply for an extension of stay with USCIS within 30 days of their graduation. 

WHAT STUDENTS, FACULTY, and STAFF CAN DO

• Refer all questions about the rule changes to International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) as each situation will have nuances that require the subject matter expertise of ISSS staff.
  • Email [email protected], schedule an ISSS Advising appointment or participate in ISSS walk-in advising to discuss how these changes apply to your individual situations.
• Participate in ISSS webinars and workshops to learn more about the changes, ask questions, and better understand how students and program(s) could be affected.
  -- STUDENTS should register for ISSS’ End of Duration of Status – What It Means for F and J Students webinar here - Events & Workshops
  -- FACULTY AND STAFF can attend Study Colorado’s September 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m. webinar entitled The New Rule for F and J Nonimmigrants: Fixed Periods of Stay, Extensions, and Academic Mobility Restrictions.  Please contact [email protected] to request a calendar invitation.