The DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) departments are setting a new rule in effect to end the "duration of status" for international students. This rule will change the stay of international students who are studying in the U.S. from an open period of study to a period set with an end date. The final rule has been published in the Federal Register on Friday, July 17, and will go into effect Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
To help you stay informed, OU ISS will continue to update this page with important information as we learn it, and we will email our students with any major news or updates.
Thank you for you patience and understanding.
F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors are currently admitted to the United States for Duration of Status (D/S), meaning they may stay as long as they remain in good immigration standing and meet their program requirements. D/S has been the policy for more than 30 years.
The proposed rule would eliminate the current D/S policy, replacing it with a fixed period of stay of no more than four years.
Effective September 15, 2026, the following changes will apply to F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors:
The rule has been published and will go into effect on September 15th, 2026.
Familiarize yourself with the I-94: The I-94 for most F-1 and J-1 visa holders shows “D/S” (Duration of Status) in the Admit Until Date field. That means you can remain in the United States of the entire length of your program – as long as you continue to meet all visa requirements. For a quick refresher on how to keep your status in good standing, visit the F-1 and J-1 pages on the OU ISS website.
Check your passport expiration date: Federal regulations require your passport to remain valid at least 6 months into the future in the U.S. If your passport expires before the end of your “Duration of Status” (or fixed end date) on your I-94, your authorized stay in the U.S. is effectively limited to that expiration date, and you could fall out of status. Plan accordingly and renew if needed.
Stay informed: Follow the OU ISS website, email communications for the latest information.
Currently, F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors are admitted to the U.S. for Duration of Status (D/S). This means they may remain in the U.S. as long as they continue to maintain their immigration status and program requirements.
Under the proposed rule, F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants would receive a fixed end date on their I-94 rather than D/S. In most cases, admission would be limited to the program end date listed on the Form I-20 or DS-2019, up to a maximum of four years.
Individuals needing additional time to complete their academic or exchange program may need to submit a formal Extension of Stay request to USCIS.
No. The rule has not yet been published in the Federal Register. Current D/S policies remain in effect at this time.
At this time, specific implementation details have not yet been released. Additional information is expected after the final rule is published in the Federal Register. Please note that much of the information currently available is based on the initial proposed rule, meaning changes may still occur before the final rule is officially published.
Once the final rule is published, ISEO will review the changes and provide communication regarding implementation timelines, potential impacts, and how the changes may affect UC San Diego international students and scholars.
The final rule is expected to become effective approximately 30-60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
At this time, the final details have not been released; we will have more information once the final rule is published. However, individuals and departments may wish to proactively review upcoming program end date and submit an extension request for current programs as early as possible. Submitting extensions in advance may help reduce potential extension delays in the future.
