DHS Fixed Admission Rule Eliminating Duration of Status for F and J Nonimmigrants and Restricting Academic Flexibility

If you are an F-1 or J-1 student or J-1 scholar who is already in the United States in valid status on September 15, 2026, and your current Form I-94 shows D/S (Duration of Status), you are covered by special transition provisions. This means that not every provision of the Fixed Admission Rule will apply to you immediately. During the transition period, some current policies remain in effect while other provisions of the new rule apply. 

During the transition period: 

• Your current D/S admission remains in effect. You do not need to obtain a new Form I-94 with a fixed expiration date simply because the new rule becomes effective.  

• You generally are not required to apply for an extension of stay right away. In most cases, you may continue in your current status until one of the following dates:  

• Current student: your authorized program end date reflected on your most recent I-20 or up to four years after the rule’s effective date, whichever comes first. 

• OPT: your OPT authorization end date reflected on your EAD, or for up to four years after the rule's effective date, whichever comes first.  

• If you file an OPT or STEM OPT application on or before March 18, 2027, Your admit until date will become the end of your OPT or STEM OPT period.  

• The new academic provisions of the Fixed Admission Rule still apply. Certain actions, such as program changes, transfers, or other academic events, may now be governed by the new regulations, even while you remain under the transition provisions.  

• If you travel internationally and are readmitted to the United States after the rule takes effect, you will generally receive a Form I-94 with a fixed admission period rather than D/S, and the new admission rules will apply to that entry.  

• Students who remain under the transition provisions generally keep the current grace period (60 days for F-1 students and 30 days for J-1 exchange visitors). Once you become subject to the Fixed Admission Rule, such as after a new admission or approval of an extension of stay under the new rule, the new 30-day grace period generally applies. 

The FAQ sections below provide more details on admission periods, grace period, extensions of stay, and OPT. 

No. F-1 and J-1 Visa holders who are already in the United States will not automatically receive a new Form I-94 when the rule takes effect. A new Form I-94 is generally issued when an individual enters or re-enters the United States.

Your I-94 may still say D/S even if you now are subject to a specific end date. Your admit until date will be your SEVIS record/ I-20 program end date, or four years and 60 days from the rule effective date, whichever is earlier.  

At this time, most students and exchange visitors should continue to maintain their F-1 and J-1 status and follow current immigration requirements. OIPS recommends that you:

• Review your immigration documents and make sure they are valid

• Keep copies of your immigration records in a secure location

• Apply for a program extension if needed

• Monitor this webpage for updates as additional information becomes available

• Contact OIPS if you have questions before traveling internationally or apply for immigration benefits such as OPT or Change of Status.

The rule will be in effect on September 15, 2026. This date may be subject to change. The Department of Homeland Security will make an announcement if the effective date changes. 

The answer depends on when you are admitted to the United States.

Students, including those on OPT, who are already in the United States in valid F-1 or J-1 status before September 15, 2026, are covered by special transition provisions.

• Most students will not receive a new Form I-94 unless they leave the United States and return. Until then, their current I-94 and SEVIS record/I-20 program end date will continue to determine how long they may stay in the U.S. 

• It is important to remember that even if the student’s current Form I-94 says D/S (Duration of Status), after the rule becomes effective, they will still need to apply for a Program Extension with OIPS and an Extension of Stay application with USCIS before their current SEVIS/I-20 end date. 

F-1 and J-1 entering the United States on or after September 15, 2026 are admitted to the United States for a specific period of time rather than Duration of Status, or D/S. Students will have an admit until date (AUD) listed on their Form I-94.

• Degree students are generally admitted for up to four years at entry.
• Language students, including Academic English and Gateway students, are admitted for up to two years.
• J-1 nondegree students are admitted for up to two years.
• J-1 student interns are admitted for up to one year.
• J-1 Research Scholars and Professors currently may be admitted for up to five years. The final rule may limit this time frame to four years.

Students should check their Form I-94 for their admission end date and their I-20 form end date. Students who need additional time beyond their I-20 end date or Form I-94 end date, whichever is earlier must request an extension before their authorized stay expires. 

If your I-94 still says D/S after the rule effect date, speak to an OIPS advisor to help you understand your admit until date.  

Students who need additional time must apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS after applying for and being approved for a program extension with OIPS.

USCIS will review whether the student has a valid reason for the extension, including academic or medical circumstances. Students may need to provide documentation showing academic progress and the reason additional time is needed.

OIPS will continue to assist students by issuing the program extension I-20 or DS-2019 after students submit required documents, including academic justification. (See the Program Extension section of the International Hub for details on this process). However, USCIS now plays a central role in approving extensions of stay.

• Before the effective rule date, OIPS can still review and approve program extensions.
• Once the rule is effective on September 1, 2026, in addition to receiving a program extension with OIPS, individuals will also need to file an Extension of Stay application with USCIS. 

OIPS does not have detailed information on these procedures yet since these are newly implemented processes. We recommend that you monitor the USCIS website for the most current filing instructions and eligibility requirements. Generally, be prepared to provide documentation such as:

• Valid passport
• Current I-20 form or DS-2019
• Most recent I-94
• Evidence that you continue to maintain status
• Documentation supporting the reason additional time is needed
• Evidence of sufficient financial support
• Other documentation and information may be required
• Proof of biometrics (fingerprinting, photographs, signature) 

Note that premium processing does not appear to be available for an Extension of Stay application at this time. 

Although USCIS will have the final approval over Extension of Stay requests under the new rule, students should continue to work with OIPS to determine eligibility, obtain any required school documentation, and understand the immigration requirements that apply to their situation.

If USCIS denies an extension request after the student’s authorized admission period has expired. The student and dependents generally must depart the United States immediately. Students should consult with their individual departments to learn if they can complete their degree remotely after departing the U.S.

Yes. Under the Fixed Admission Rule, many F-1 students will have a 30-day grace period instead of the current 60-day grace period.

• Current F-1 students in the United States on September 15, 2026: Students who are maintaining valid F-1 status in the United States on September 15, 2026, will generally keep the 60-day grace period after their program or authorized employment ends.

• F-1 students admitted under the new fixed-date system:Students who enter or re-enter the United States with a "admit until date” on their I-94 will generally have a 30-day grace period after the program or employment authorization ends.

• No. J-1 scholars and students will continue to have a 30-day grace period under the Fixed Admission Rule. J-1 scholars and students will continue to have 30 days to depart the U.S. after program completion.

International travel may affect how the Fixed Admission Rule applies to your individual situation. F-1 and J-1 visa holders who depart and re-enter the United States after the rule's effective date generally will receive a new Form I-94 reflecting the terms of their admission under the new rule. Depending on your individual circumstances, this may affect your authorized period of stay, grace period, extension of stay requirements, or other immigration procedures.

Students who are already in the United States on the rule's effective date may be subject to different requirements than individuals entering the United States after the rule takes effect. International travel may affect which provisions of the rule apply to your situation.

Before traveling internationally, review current travel guidance and contact OIPS if you have questions about how travel may affect your immigration status.

Yes. In most cases, F-2 and J-2 dependents receive the same authorized period of stay as the principal F-1 student or J-1 exchange visitor since the dependent’s immigration status is tied to the principal's status. F-2 and J-2 dependents who enter and re-enter the U.S., are encouraged to review their immigration documents, including their Form I-94 after each entry.

Unlike the previous flexible Duration of Status (D/S) framework, the Fixed Admission Rule places greater restrictions on certain academic changes after a student has been admitted to the United States. Students should carefully consider their academic plans before beginning a program, as some changes that were previously permitted may no longer be allowed under the new rule.

These restrictions are federal immigration requirements established by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and are separate from university academic policies. Approval of an academic change by an academic department does not automatically satisfy federal immigration requirements. Therefore, it is important that students plan in advance and consult their academic department and OIPS before finalizing significant academic changes.

Below the graduate level students generally cannot change their program during their first academic year after admission.

Graduate students generally cannot change their academic program or field of study after beginning their program under the new rule.

Below the graduate level students cannot transfer during their first academic year.

Graduate students cannot transfer to another school at any time.

Students who complete a degree cannot pursue a second degree at the same or lower level.

Students are restricted from making lateral or lower-level changes. For example, a student in a doctoral program cannot switch to a master’s program or pursue a master’s program after completing a doctoral program.

Students should begin planning their academic program before arriving in the United States and continue working closely with their academic department throughout their studies. Because the Fixed Admission Rule limits certain academic changes after admission, careful academic planning is more important than under the previous Duration of Status (D/S) framework.

• The transition provisions apply to students who are admitted for Duration of Stats (D/S0, physically present, and maintaining status on the rule effective date.  

• Students who graduate in Fall, 2026 and Spring, 2027 or who are otherwise eligible and apply to will receive an automatic extension of their admit until date through the end of their Post-Completion OPT period if they apply for it with USCIS before March 18h, 2027 

• Students who leave and come back between the rule effective date and March 18th, 2027 will no longer be covered under the transition and will need to take action to extend their period of stay.  

In addition to getting a fixed date if a student travels and comes back after the rule effective date, if the student has not already applied for Post-Completion OPT with USCIS, the student will then have to take action to extend their period of stay so they can remain in the United States for their OPT period. 

Yes. The Fixed Period of Admission Final Rule does not eliminate OPT. If a student is eligible for OPT, they may still apply. 

What changes under the new rule is how students maintain their lawful stay in the United States. 

In the past, students admitted in Duration of Status (D/S) generally remained in the U.S. for the length of their academic program and any approved practical training. Under the new rule, employment authorization and authorized stay are no longer automatically tied together. 

If OPT extends beyond the end of authorized stay, students may also need to file an Application to Extend Stay (Form I-539) in addition to the OPT application. 

Eligible students for Post-Completion OPT who are already in the United States on the rule effective date, admitted under D/S, and maintaining F-1 status who apply before March 18th, 2027 will not need to to take separate action to extend their period of stay for Post-Completion OPT. These students Admit Until Date will go from their program end date to their OPT end date. Students in this situation may need to take action to extend their admit until date beyond their OPT period if they wish to continue to STEM OPT or peruse another degree inside the United States. 

Students on OPT and STEM OPT who are already in the United States on the rule effective date, admitted under D/S, and maintaining F-1 status will have until the end of their OPT or STEM OPT as their remaining period of stay and may need to apply for an extension of stay to continue OPT or to pursue another degree.

Under the previous D/S system, students generally could remain in the United States throughout their authorized OPT period. 

Under the new rule, OPT approval and authorized stay are two separate things. 

Receiving an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) does not automatically extend the amount of time a student is authorized to remain in the United States. 

If authorized stay ends before the requested OPT period, students may also need to file an Extension of Stay application with USCIS.  

Students who are already in the United States on September 15, 2026, admitted under D/S, and maintaining F-1 status are covered by special transition provisions. Their authorized stay continues until their program end date plus 60 days for current students or or EAD expiration date plus 60 days for students on OPT and STEM OPT. However, the total period may not exceed four years from the rule's effective date.

It depends on when the OPT application was filed and whether the student qualifies for the transition provisions. 

Students with a timely and properly filed OPT application already pending on September 15, 2026, will not need to file a separate Extension of Stay application unless USCIS specifically requests one. 

The final rule also includes a temporary exemption that allows transition students applying for OPT to file only Form I-765 without a separate Extension of Stay application for qualifying applications filed by March 18, 2027. DHS may extend the exemption in six-month increments by publishing a new announcement. Once that exemption ends, students whose requested OPT period extends beyond their authorized stay should expect to file both: 

• Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)  

• Form I-539 (Application to Extend Stay)  

Because implementation guidance is still evolving, students should apply for OPT as early as possible and contact OIPS if they have questions about their individual circumstances. 

STEM OPT is not going away! The eligibility requirements for the 24-month STEM OPT extension remain the same. What changes is that students may need to maintain both: 

• valid STEM OPT employment authorization; and  

• a valid period of authorized stay in the United States.  

Students covered by the September 15, 2026, transition provisions include those who are admitted for D/S, were present in the United States, and were maintaining F-1 status on September 15, 2026. Current students may remain in the United States until their program end date plus the 60 day grace period. Students on OPT and STEM OPT may remain inside the United States until the expiration of their EAD card plus a 60 day grace period. 

The rule also includes a temporary filing exemption for transition students applying for STEM OPT. During that exemption period (currently for qualifying applications filed on or before March 18, 2027, unless DHS extends it, qualifying students are allowed to  file only Form I-765. 

After the exemption expires, students whose authorized stay does not cover the full STEM OPT period should expect to file both Form I-765 and Form I-539.