Effects of Changes to Duration of Status for F International Students and Dependents
The final Duration of Status rule was published on July 17, 2026, and is scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026, unless it is delayed through litigation or Congressional review.
HCU International Student Services is currently reviewing the rule and will update this page as additional guidance becomes available.
The new rule eliminates the concept of Duration of Status (D/S) for F nonimmigrants and replaces it with an Admit Until Date (AUD). This change applies to F-1 students as well as graduates participating in OPT or STEM OPT.
Final Duration of Status Rule Changes
What is Duration of Status (D/S)?
When an international student enters the United States, they are inspected by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, who issues an I-94 arrival record indicating how long the individual may remain in the country.
Historically, F-1 students have been admitted for Duration of Status (D/S), which appears on the I-94. Unlike many other nonimmigrant categories that receive a specific expiration date, D/S allowed students to remain in the United States as long as they maintained their status and made normal progress toward completing their academic program.
Under the new rule, D/S is eliminated and replaced with a fixed period of admission. Students will be admitted until the program end date listed on their Form I-20, not to exceed four years.
Summary of Key Changes
1. Admit Until Date (AUD) Replaces D/S
Under the new rule, F nonimmigrants will be admitted until the program end date listed on their Form I-20 (up to a maximum of four years), plus a 30-day grace period. This date-specific period of admission is called the Admit Until Date (AUD) and will appear on the Form I-94.
The AUD requirement applies to individuals who
- Enter the United States in F status on or after September 15, 2026
- Reenter the United States in F status on or after September 15, 2026
- Change status to F status after September 15, 2026
Any stay beyond the AUD will require either
- Filing Form I-539 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to request an Extension of Stay (EOS), or
- Departing the United States and reentering with a new period of admission
2. Program Extensions Will Require USCIS Approval
Students who need additional time to complete their program must first obtain an updated Form I-20 showing the new program end date.
If the Designated School Official (DSO) approves the extension, the student (and any F-2 dependents) must file Form I-539 with USCIS before the AUD expires in order to remain in the United States legally.
As an alternative, students may travel abroad and seek readmission to the United States with a new AUD based on the updated Form I-20.
3. Four-Year Admission Limit
The rule does not change the length of time a school may authorize on a Form I-20. However, it limits the period of admission granted by CBP or USCIS.
The four-year limit is not a lifetime cap on time spent in F-1 status. Rather, it is the maximum period that may be granted during a single admission period, based on:
- The program end date listed on the Form I-20, or
- For students on post-completion OPT or STEM OPT, the employment authorization end date listed on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
4. Grace Period Reduced from 60 Days to 30 Days
Current regulations provide F-1 students with a 60-day grace period after completing their academic program or practical training. The new rule reduces this post-completion grace period from 60 days to 30 days.
Students Currently in F-1 Status on September 15, 2026
Students who were admitted under D/S and are already in the United States on September 15, 2026, will remain under transition provisions.
These students may continue to receive a 60-day grace period until one of the following occurs:
- They travel internationally and reenter the United States, or
- They receive an Extension of Stay approval from USCIS
At that point, they will be issued a date-specific AUD and will be subject to the new 30-day grace period.
Restrictions on Transfers and Changes of Educational Objectives
The final rule places new limitations on transferring schools and changing educational objectives.
Undergraduate Students
During the first year of a program, undergraduate students may not:
- Transfer to another school, or
- Change their educational objective (such as changing majors or moving to a different educational level)
Graduate Students
Graduate students generally may not:
- Transfer to another school, or
- Change programs of study at any point during their program
Exceptions may be available only under limited circumstances approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), such as school closures or natural disasters.
Additional Degree Limitations
Students who complete a program after September 15, 2026, may not begin a new program at the same or a lower educational level.
Current language in the rule suggests this restriction could be interpreted as a lifetime limitation, although additional government guidance may clarify its application.