DHS ends 'duration of status' for F-1 students starting Sept 15, 2026
DHS will end duration of status for F-1, J-1, and I visa holders effective September 15, 2026.
Why it matters: Corporate legal teams and universities must adjust visa compliance and student support under tighter immigration controls that limit academic flexibility and require extensions for longer stays.
- The DHS final rule published July 17, 2026, ends duration of status for F, J, and I nonimmigrants.
- These visa holders will now receive a fixed admission period, typically up to four years, instead of duration of status.
- Extensions of stay must be requested from USCIS to continue beyond the initial period, or risk unlawful presence.
- New restrictions limit major changes, program level changes, and transfers during the first year of study.
On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule ending the longstanding 'duration of status' (D/S) policy for international students and exchange visitors holding F-1, J-1, and I visas. This significant policy shift will take effect on September 15, 2026, fundamentally changing how these nonimmigrants are admitted to the United States.
Previously, F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors were allowed to stay in the U.S. for the "duration of their status," meaning as long as they maintained lawful enrollment and complied with their program requirements. The new rule replaces this with a fixed period of admission, typically up to four years, plus a 30-day grace period after the program ends. As immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta explains, affected individuals will need to apply for extensions of stay through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if additional time is needed to complete their studies or assignments.
Failure to timely apply for an extension or maintain lawful status can result in unlawful presence, triggering potential reentry bars of three or ten years. This raises the stakes for compliance and planning among visa holders and their sponsoring institutions.
Moreover, the final rule imposes new restrictions on academic mobility during the first year of a program, limiting changes such as major switches, level changes, and transfers between institutions. Universities like Yale's International Student and Scholar Services have highlighted that these constraints will require significant adjustments in student advising and institutional policies.
Corporate legal departments must reassess visa monitoring and compliance programs, especially those that sponsor or support international students and scholars, ensuring timely extension filings to avoid adverse immigration consequences.
By the numbers:
- July 17, 2026 — DHS published the final rule
- September 15, 2026 — Effective date of the rule
- Up to 4 years — Typical initial admission period under the new rule
- 3-year or 10-year bar — Potential consequences for unlawful presence
Yes, but: The final rule does not yet clarify extension application procedures or how currently enrolled visa holders will be managed under the new system.