International student studying in a library alongside a U.S. visa entry stamp, representing fixed-period stay rules for F-1 and J-1 status.

The End of Duration of Status for Students (F-1) and Exchange Visitors (J-1)

For more than three decades, F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors have been allowed to stay in the United States for a period known as “duration of status,” or D/S. This was different from other visas such as B-1/B-2, H-1B, or L-1, which come with a fixed expiration date. Under D/S, F students and J exchange visitors could remain in the country as long as they continued making normal progress toward finishing their studies or research and remained in good standing. Crucially, under D/S designation students also had additional protections. For example, they didn’t automatically begin accruing unlawful presence—which can trigger long-term re-entry bars— if they overstayed their I-20 expiration date or violated status unless a judge or immigration officer formally made a finding of a status violation. This era of D/S for student is now coming to an end.

On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule that changes the F-1 and J-1 system in a fundamental way. The new policy takes effect on September 15, 2026. From that date, F and J visa holders will be admitted for a fixed period of time instead of D/S. In this article, I will walk you through the most important changes and explain what you can do to prepare before the rule takes effect.

Important Changes to Note

1. The End of “Duration of Status” (D/S)

  • A fixed time period. F-1 students will no longer be admitted for an open-ended stay. Instead, you will be admitted only for the length of your program listed on your Form I-20, up to a maximum of four years. J-1 exchange visitors will also receive a fixed period based on the duration of their program.
  • Extension of Stay (EOS). Because D/S is ending, you will now need to file an application called an Extension of Stay with USCIS (Form I-539, with a fee and biometrics) if you need more time. You would file an EOS to:
    ◦ finish an undergraduate program that takes longer than four years;
    ◦ finish a program when you are just a few credits short of graduating;
    ◦ do post-completion training such as OPT, STEM OPT, or academic training;
    ◦ move up to a higher level of study; or
    ◦ move from an English language program into a degree program.

2. A Shorter Grace Period

After you finish your program, the time you have to leave the country or transfer/change your status is being reduced from 60 days to 30 days for F-1 students. (For J-1 exchange visitors, this period was already 30 days, so it does not change.)

3. Limits on Changing Majors or Transferring Schools

  • Graduate students cannot change their major or level of study at any point during their program.
  • Graduate students can only transfer to a new school if SEVP approves it, case by case, for “extenuating circumstances.”
  • Students below the graduate level cannot change majors or transfer schools during their first year, unless they are approved for “extenuating circumstances.”
  • No Multiple Degree Programs at the Same Educational Level. Similar to the current rule, F-1 students may continue to a higher level of education. However, they may not complete more than one degree program at the same educational level. For example, an F-1 student could not earn two separate master’s degrees. Students may pursue a double major, but they must be enrolled in both majors at the same time.
  • F-1 students will not be allowed to enroll in a lower level of education course of study after completing a higher level of education.

4. Guidance for Students Already in the U.S.

  • If you are already here. If you are an F-1 student in the U.S. under D/S on September 15, 2026, you do not need to file an extension immediately. You can stay through the end date on your Form I-20 (or your OPT/STEM OPT period), up to November 14, 2030 for F students and October 15, 2030 for J exchange visitors.
  • Be cautious about travel. If you leave the country and come back on or after September 15, 2026, you will automatically be placed under the new fixed-period system and receive an I-94 with a fixed expiration date.
  • OPT and STEM OPT — an important deadline of March 18, 2027. If you qualify under the transition rules and file Form I-765 for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT on or before March 18, 2027, you will not need to file a separate EOS for that work period. After that date, you will usually need to file both applications.

5. Impact on “Unlawful Presence”
This is the most consequential change, so please read it carefully. In the past, “unlawful presence” usually did not begin until USCIS officially found that you had violated your status, or an immigration judge ordered you removed. Under the new rule, an F-1 or J-1 visa holder begins to accrue unlawful presence the day after your Form I-94 admit until date (AUD) expires. This matters because accrual of unlawful presence can trigger 3-year and 10-year bars on returning to the United States.

The good news: if you file your Extension of Stay on time, you are treated as being in a lawful period while it is pending, and unlawful presence does not build up. The simple rule to remember: watch your I-94 date, not your I-20 date.

What This Means for You
This is a major change to a system that helped make American education accessible to talented individuals from around the world. Roughly 1.2 million international students(1) are studying in the U.S. today, and this rule affects nearly all of them. Three worries stand out:

  • Delays can become real problems. Students in programs longer than four years — such as many PhD and research students — will now depend on USCIS approving their extension on time. USCIS is already backed up in almost every type of case, and these new filings will add to that burden. If USCIS processing is slow, you may be allowed to stay but not allowed to work or study until the application is approved.
  • Less flexibility. The new restrictions on changing your major, changing your level, or transferring schools take away much of the flexibility that made U.S. education attractive. A student who finds a better research direction, or whose advisor leaves, now has far fewer options to remain and study in the U.S.
  • Unclear standards. The rule uses terms like “compelling academic reasons” and “pattern of behavior” that are not clearly defined, and DHS says it will decide these case by case. That makes it hard to know in advance whether you will qualify for an exception of this new rule.

What You Can Do Now

  1. If you are abroad and can enter before September 15, 2026, try to do so. Entering before that date keeps you under the more flexible transition rules.
  2. If you are in the U.S., consider your travel plans carefully. Returning on or after September 15 puts you on the new fixed I-94 system, even if you are on D/S now.
  3. Check your program end date against your admission period, and plan to file your Extension of Stay early. Timely filing is what protects you from unlawful presence.
  4. If OPT or STEM OPT is part of your plan, mark March 18, 2027 on your calendar.
  5. Watch your I-94 date, not your I-20 date.

We Are Here to Help
These changes are a lot to take in, and it is normal to feel anxious about what they mean for your future. You do not have to figure this out alone. Before you make any big decision, traveling abroad, moving up to a higher degree, or applying for OPT or STEM OPT, please talk with an experienced immigration attorney. Global Immigration Legal Team is here to guide you at every step, from planning your travel to extending your stay and beyond. Please contact Lou or call our office at (610) 975-4599 to schedule a consultation today.

1: https://opendoorsdata.org/annual-release/international-students/

Scroll to Top