For decades, international students in the United States were admitted for "duration of status": they could stay as long as they remained enrolled full-time and made progress towards their degree. That system ended on 15 September 2026, when a Department of Homeland Security rule took effect. It was published in the Federal Register on 17 July.

What changed

  • A fixed end date. Students on F-1 visas and exchange visitors on J-1 visas now receive an admission period tied to the end date of their programme, up to a maximum of four years. Border officers record an "admit until" date on the student's I-94 record.
  • Shorter limits for some courses. English-language programmes are limited to 24 months.
  • Extensions must be requested. Students whose programmes last longer, such as PhDs, medical degrees and combined degrees, must apply to US Citizenship and Immigration Services for an extension before their authorised stay runs out. Leaving and re-entering the country is the alternative.
  • Less time after graduation. The grace period to leave the United States after finishing a course falls from 60 days to 30 days.
  • More oversight of changes. Graduate students need authorisation to change programme or transfer to another institution.

The rule also covers people already in the United States under the old system, through transition provisions.

The government's case and the concerns

DHS says fixed admission periods improve oversight and reduce overstays and fraud. University advisers warn that extension requests will depend on USCIS processing times, so a delayed decision could leave a doctoral student uncertain about their status in the middle of a degree.

What applicants should do

  1. Check that the programme end date on your I-20 or DS-2019 is accurate. It now determines how long you can stay.
  2. If your degree could run longer than four years, ask the international office early how and when to file for an extension.
  3. Plan your post-study travel or job search around the 30-day grace period.

Because the rule is classified as a major rule, it was subject to congressional review. Students should follow their university's international office for updates.

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