Elimination of Duration of Status For F-1 Students and J-1 Exchange Visitors
On July 17, 2026, a final rule was published in the Federal Registry that directs the elimination of "duration of status, or D/S" and replaces it with a system that admits F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors with an exact date based on the initial plan for program length, up to four years maximum. The fixed end date for F and J nonimmigrant status admission will be housed on Form I-94.
Final rule publishedin the Federal Register on July 17, 2026 at91 FR 44976
Final rule effective date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Key Outcomes and Implications
Permission Required to Continue, Amend or Complete Degrees or Programs
Students and exchange visitors now have a variety of situations where they have to file a formal application with a fee (currently $420) to ask U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for permission to continue, amend or complete their degrees or programs.
This will require students and exchange visitors to take action to stay beyond their I-94 fixed end date referred to on the I-94 as the'admit until' date, (travel and re-entry or apply for 'Extension of Stay' (EOS) through USCIS).
Students and scholarswith an I-94 fixed end date or I-20/DS-2019 that will expire before November 14, 2030will have to file an 'extension of stay' (EOS) application with USCIS to extend their legal status to do any of the following:
Complete a Ph.D. program that requires more time than 4 years;
Complete any educational, research, or teaching programs that require more time than 4 years;
Complete any program where a student falls a few credits short of graduation requirements;
Engage in post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or academic training;
Move to a higher level of study;
Transition from an English language program into a degree program; or
Transfer to a new school (undergraduate students) or program sponsor.
Employment with Pending EOS
Students who timely file an EOS application before the program end date listed on the I-20 may continue on-campus employment, off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship, and curricular practical training for up to 240 days while the application is pending. However, students who file an EOS during the 30-day grace period must stop all employment while the EOS is pending and may only resume work if the extension is approved.
Alternative to Filing an EOS
You can take the extended I-20 or DS-2019, depart the U.S. and re-enter showing the extended form. In order to do this, you would have to have a valid visa, and also NOT be on a travel ban or restriction list.
Change to Grace Period
The regulation shortens the F-1 grace period from 60 to 30 days following completion of their program of study or post-completion OPT or STEM OPT.
This is also the outer window for a student to request a new program start date after a program end date, and the deadline window for filing an EOS or OPT application near program completion.
Note: Students admitted to the U.S. in D/S before September 15, 2026 keep their original 60-day grace period for that specific transition cohort.
Restrictions on Academic Mobility and Maintaining Status
The regulation requires an application to USCIS to transfer schools, change the field of study, or continue for additional training or education, imposing new limits on academic flow and educational mobility.
May not transfer schools or change major within the first academic year. After completing one academic year, students may transfer and/or change majors normally.
A student disqualified from a program must depart the U.S. and re-enter on a new SEVIS record (new I-901 SEVIS fee) to begin a new program.
May not transfer at any point durign their program of study.
May not change educational objectives at any point during the program. This restriction does not lift after year one the way it does for undergraduates. Exceptions are limited to SEVP-approved extenuating circumstances that may include, but are not limited to, a school closure or a school’s prolonged inability to hold in-person classes due to a natural disaster or other cause.
A student dismissed from a program must depart the U.S. and re-enter on a new SEVIS record (new I-901 SEVIS fee) to begin a new program.
A student at one educational level may not maintain, be admitted, or otherwise be provided F-1 status through a program at the same educational level or a lower educational level.
A student who has completed a program at one educational level and begins a new program at a higher educational level is considered to be maintaining F-1 status.
USCIS Processing of Applications
The regulation does not clarify the standard by which applications will be adjudicated, or the processing time required. These changes create significant uncertainty for F-1 and J-1 visa holders in planning to study or train in the U.S. and will require these students and scholars to know and closely monitor the end date of their legal status, as well as require further advanced planning to remain in legal status.
Review the document details shared below for more information on identifying pertinent end dates.
This is the stamp in your foreign passport issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate used to request admission to the U.S. Thevalidity end dateon thevisa stamp is the date your visa is valid to request admission to the U.S. The validity date has nothing to do with the I-20, DS-2019 or I-94 end dates.
I-20 or DS-2019: These are the documents issued by Kansas State to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa, and serve as evidence of maintaining F-1 or J-1 status while in the U.S. Theprogram end dateon the I-20 or DS-2019 is the expected end date your program of study or research. This date can be extended or shortened.
This is the document issued by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) verifying your date of admission to the U.S. and your legal status while in the U.S. Theadmit until date(AUD) is a nonimmigrant’s maximum period of admission to the U.S. and is the last day a nonimmigrant is authorized to stay in the U.S. F and J students cannot remain lawfully present in the U.S. beyond their AUD and must depart the U.S., file an 'extension of stay' (EOS) with USCIS, or take other action to maintain status before their AUD expires.
Going forward, staying in legal status is no longer something ISSS can maintain by simply keeping the SEVIS record (I-20 or DS-2019) current. Students and scholars who have been admitted to the U.S. with a fixed end date that expires before they finish their program must travel outside the U.S. or file for an "Extension of Stay" (EOS) with USCIS.
English Language Training Cap
English language students are limited to anaggregate 24-month lifetime capof study (including breaks and annual vacation), regardless of how the time is split across programs or schools.
F-2 Dependents
F-2 status remains derivative of the F-1 principal's status and admission period. If the F-1 principal needs an EOS, dependents generally need to be included in or file a parallel EOS to stay in status.
Transition Period for F, J students and scholars in the U.S. in D/S
When transitioning from duration of status to a fixed period of admission, students in the U.S. should know the following information as appropriate. (source:Study in the States)
For current F students admitted for D/S who are present in the U.S. on September 15, 2026:These students may remain in the U.S. without applying for an EOS until the program end date on their I-20 or the end of their post-completion OPT or STEM OPT that is valid on September 15, 2026, not to exceed November 14, 2030 (four years plus a 60-day departure period or change of status). Students must apply for an EOS if they wish to remain in the U.S. beyond their I-20 program end date, including if additional time is needed to begin a new program of study or engage in post-completion OPT or STEM OPT. Alternatively, a student may travel and seek readmission with a new fixed period of admission.
For current J-1 students admitted for D/S who are present in the U.S. on September 15, 2026: These students may remain in the U.S. without applying for an EOS until the program end date on their DS-2019, not to exceed November 14, 2030 (four years plus a 30-day departure period or change of status.) Students must apply for an EOS if they wish to remain in the U.S. beyond their DS-2019 program end date, including if additional time is needed to begin a new program of study or engage in post-completion Academic Training. Alternatively, a student may travel and seek readmission with a new fixed period of admission.
For current F and J students who depart the U.S. after September 15, 2026:Upon returning to the U.S., these students may be admitted with a new fixed period of admission, which is the program end date on their I-20 or DS-2019, up to a maximum of four years (plus a 30-day departure period).
For current students in F-1 status, admitted to the U.S. for D/S, who have timely filed Form I-765 for post-completion OPT or a STEM OPT extension on or before March 18, 2027:These students do not have to file an EOS application.
For F students who travel before filing for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT and are readmitted into the U.S. with a fixed period of admission:These students must file both an EOS application and an application for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT.
For F students who are beneficiaries of a timely filed cap-subject H-1B petition and who are eligible for a “cap-gap” extension:These students do not need to apply for an EOS and may remain in the U.S. in F-1 status until the approval of the H-1B petition or April 1 of the fiscal year for which H1-B status is being requested, whichever comes first.