Elimination of Duration of Status

*Updated on 09/15/2026

On Monday, September 14th, a Federal Judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that blocks the final rule of the DHS Fixed Period of Admission Final Rule, 91 FR 44976 (July 17, 2026) from taking effect on Tuesday, September 15. In other words, the rule will not be implemented until there is further judicial action.  The ISSO will share more updates as they become available.

08/20/2026 webinar slides – Duration of Status and Program Extension Changes

This information is based on the ISSO’s initial review and analysis of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final regulation entitled “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media,” which was published on July 17, 2026. 

As explained further below, the new rule (a) eliminates the I-94 duration of status (D/S) for F and J visa holders, (b) establishes a fixed period of admission to the U.S. for F and J visa holders, and (c) imposes new restrictions on F-1 students’ ability to change programs or transfer institutions.

The ISSO will keep the campus community updated on the status of the rule, provide clarifications from government agencies as they are made available and update any changes to the implementation of the rule on our webpage. Please note that ISSO websites about specific topics (e.g., program completion, extensions, etc.) will take some time to update as the new rule continues to be analyzed and implemented.

Background

Since 1991, F and J students have been admitted to the U.S. for a period known as ‘duration of status’ or ‘D/S’ as indicated on the “admit until date” field of the I-94 arrival/departure record.  When granted D/S, students and scholars were permitted to remain in the U.S. for the period of time it took to complete their program of study or research provided they maintained their status. Under the D/S framework, F and J visa holders’ stays were governed by the program end date on the I-20 or DS-2019, or for F-1 students on OPT or STEM OPT, by the end date of their Employment Authorization document. 

Summary of Major Changes

First, the rule eliminates ‘duration of status,’ and requires F and J visa holders to abide by a fixed end date for their stay in the U.S. (or “Admit Until Date” or “AUD”). The maximum period of initial stay is four years or the length of the I-20 or DS-2019, whichever is shorter. Any extension of stay will require USCIS approval.   

Second, for F-1 students, the rule also imposes several new academic restrictions on changes in “educational objective”, impacting transfer eligibility and degree choice and flexibility, with different rules for undergraduate students and graduate students.  

Overview of changes

  • Date-specific I-94s: Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Records will specify fixed entry and end dates that align with the academic program length or four years, whichever is shorter. 
  • Extension of Stay (EOS) applications will be required if extra time is needed: Anyone needing to extend their legal stay in the U.S. (including applicants for OPT and STEM OPT) must file a request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Additional fees (as determined by USCIS) will apply.
  • Shorter grace period for F-1 students: For those that enter the U.S. after the effective date of the rule, the grace period will be shortened from 60 to 30 days following the completion of an academic program or OPT.  The grace period for J-1 students and scholars will remain at 30 days.
  • Limitations on changes to educational objectives: Educational objective refers to a student’s academic level, degree program and/or major. F-1 undergraduate students will not be allowed to change their “educational objective” during their first academic year of study. F-1 graduate students will not be allowed to change their “educational objective” at any point during their degree program. F-1 students are no longer eligible for lateral or reverse matriculation if they’ve already completed an F-1 program of study.
  • Limitations on transfers: F-1 undergraduate students will not be allowed to transfer their SEVIS record to another institution during their first academic year. F-1 graduate students will not be allowed to transfer their SEVIS record to another institution at any point during their current degree program. It may be possible to transfer in order to begin a PhD after completing the master’s degree.

Effective Date

The ISSO will keep relevant stakeholders apprised of any updates on our Alerts & Announcements page and/or via email.

Also relevant to timing is the transition period, which particularly impacts students who are applying for OPT or STEM OPT for the six-month period following the effective date, or until March 18, 2027. The rules for this transition are complex and are discussed in more detail on our OPT/STEM OPT webpages.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) PAGE.