The rule ending “duration of status” (D/S) is scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026. The new policy has been classified as a major rule subject to congressional review. The effective date is currently September 15, but congressional review could change the start date or terminate the rule.

The Department of Homeland Security is eliminating the duration of status provision that allowed F-1 and J-1 visa holders to receive D/S, rather than a specific end date, on their I-94 entry record when entering the United States. D/S allowed students and scholars to stay until their program end date, as long as they maintained their status and filed for extensions with their school’s immigration advisors. 

Under the new rule, admission to the U.S. for F/J students and scholars now has a fixed expiration date: either the program end date or four years—whichever is shorter. Extensions will be processed through an application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or by leaving the U.S. and reentering with an I-20 or DS-2019 showing the extension of stay.

If you do not travel internationally or apply for an extension, you can remain in the U.S. for up to four years, or until the end of your program or end date on your I-20/DS-2019 or work authorization document (EAD)—whichever date comes sooner. If you leave the U.S. and seek reentry after September 15, the new rule applies. 

Many students and scholars may be affected in additional ways by the new policies. Please reach out to us if you have specific questions about your situation.

Being in the U.S. for four or more years does not disqualify you from F or J status under the new rule. Four years is the maximum length of your admission period, not a cap on how long someone can be in F or J status. 

Under the new rule, F and J nonimmigrants are admitted to the U.S. for a fixed admission period: the program end date listed on their Form I-20 or DS-2019 or for a maximum period of four years, whichever is shorter. You can apply to extend your F or J status beyond four years. See the "Extending Your Stay" section of this page for more information. 

Yes. The rule restricts undergraduates from transferring schools or changing programs or degree levels during the first academic year. It restricts graduate students from changing schools, programs, or educational objectives throughout the degree. It also bars beginning another degree program at the same or a lower educational level after completing a program. 

The rule’s treatment of some changes—including professional and combined-degree pathways—is currently unclear. Please contact us early to discuss your situation if you’re considering a program change.

Your I-20/DS-2019 program end date and I-94 “admit until date” (AUD) serve different purposes and are not automatically identical. 

Cornell issues the I-20 or DS-2019 with a program end date based on the academic or exchange program and your individual circumstances. 

U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issues the I-94 when you enter the U.S and, under the new rule, assigns a fixed AUD based on the program end date or the four-year maximum stay, whichever comes first. Your visa expiration date is separate and does not determine how long you may remain in the U.S. Be sure to check your I-94 every time you enter the country and address any errors promptly.

Canadian citizens are generally exempt from the F-1 visa requirement, but they are not exempt from F-1 status rules. 

When seeking entry to the U.S. after September 15, you’ll need to present the required F-1 documentation at the border, including a valid passport and I-20, and a CBP officer will decide on admission and assign your AUD. Be sure to check your I-94 every time you enter the country and address any errors promptly.

Travel after the rule’s effective date also triggers the new extension and OPT requirements. 

We are currently in a transition period until the rule goes into effect on September 15.

In addition, people in the U.S. in F-1 status who are applying for post-completion OPT will have a six-month period after the effective date to submit OPT applications without also having to file an I-539 to extend their academic program. OPT applicants after the end of the six-month grace period will need to file I-539s.

If you are planning to transfer or change programs or need a program extension, acting before the rule takes effect may allow you to minimize the impact of the new requirements and fees. Talk with International Services as soon as possible.

F-1 students already in the U.S. when the rule takes effect keep the current 60-day F-1 grace period. F-1 students who enter the U.S. after the effective date will only receive a 30-day grace period. The J-1 grace period remains 30 days. 

No. A visa is an entry document; its expiration does not by itself end F-1 or J-1 status while you remain in the U.S. Your authorized stay is governed by your I-94 AUD and your continued compliance with F-1 or J-1 requirements. 

If you travel internationally, you will generally need a valid F-1 or J-1 visa to seek reentry unless a specific exception applies. Under the new rule, the I-94’s fixed AUD becomes especially important, so be sure to check your I-94 every time you enter the country and address any errors promptly.

If you leave the country for study abroad, fieldwork, or other international travel, the new requirements will affect you when you reenter the U.S. After September 15, you will receive an I-94 with a fixed AUD on reentry. The new AUD should reflect the time remaining in your academic program or OPT EAD end date, or four years—whichever is shorter. 

For reentry, you need the required travel documents for your visa type, including a valid passport, a visa if required, and an updated I-20 or DS-2019. Visit Travel for more information.

Under the new rule, a fixed admission period cannot exceed four years at a time, even when an academic or exchange program is designed to last longer. 

See the "Extending Your Stay" section for more information about seeking an extension through international travel and reentry. Be aware that reentry is not guaranteed. Before you travel, you’ll need an updated I-20 or DS-2019 from International Services.

Assuming you are in the U.S. in D/S when the rule takes effect, there are a few key issues to consider around your OPT and travel. 

If you remain in the U.S. throughout the academic year and apply for OPT by March 18, you are not required to file an I-539 extension. If you leave and reenter after September 15, you lose this transition exception. See the “F-1 OPT and J-1 AT” section for more information.

Travel before OPT approval or before employment begins can create additional reentry and documentation risks. International Services has always recommended caution to those traveling internationally with pending OPT petitions.

The new rule does not override country-specific restrictions on visa issuance or entry. Our current guidance for people whose home countries are subject to a travel ban or entry restriction is to avoid international travel and reentry as a way to extend status. 

Leaving the U.S. may make return impossible or substantially delayed, even with an updated I-20 or DS-2019. Because restrictions and exceptions can change, affected students and scholars should consult with International Services before making any travel plans.

To apply for an extension of your stay in the United States, start by working with International Services to apply for and receive an extended I-20 or DS-2019. Then you submit that signed form, along with a completed and signed Form I-539, to USCIS to request an extension of stay. Find out more about the I-539, including filing fees. 

Another method is to take your extended I-20 or DS-2019 and leave the U.S. When you reenter, you must show the extended form and be approved for reentry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

When the rule goes into effect, specific cases should provide more clarity about how the two options are working in practice.

In some cases, yes. Be aware that reentry is not guaranteed. You must have a valid visa and be approved for reentry by CBP. Your home country must not be on the travel ban or restriction list.

Before the end of your program, you will need to apply to extend your stay. Extensions will only be approved for the specific time needed to finish your program. PhD students and others in this situation may need to file multiple extension requests with USCIS over the course of their program or travel and reenter more than once. 

Yes, you can work for up to 240 days, provided your I-539 was received by USCIS before your academic program end date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019. This applies to on-campus work and CPT.

People in dependent visa statuses (F-2 and J-2) will need to apply for extensions. Your dependents can be included in your I-539 extension filings and should not have to pay separate filing fees if their application accompanies yours. If you have an extended I-20 or DS-2019, travel and reentry to the U.S. may be an option. 

Your academic department, working with International Services, can help you determine if there are justifiable reasons for a program extension. These can include medical or academic reasons or delays in program completion due to a natural disaster. Be aware that USCIS may apply stricter standards and use its own discretion when determining whether an extension is warranted.

If delays in program completion are shown to be due to poor academic performance, failing classes, or otherwise failing to make normal academic progress, USCIS can deny an extension request. If the person has exceeded the normally allowed time for an academic program, an extension also might be denied. 

Proof of sufficient financial resources for the additional time will also be required, and an application could be denied if funding is deemed insufficient. USCIS may also review cases for possible fraud issues and violations of required nonimmigrant intent (F and J visa holders must maintain the intention of returning to their home country).

If USCIS denies an extension application, inform International Services immediately. You may also choose to consult with an immigration attorney about options that might be available to you. 

When people receive a notice of denial, their lawful status in the U.S. ends, with no grace period. Remaining in the U.S. after an extension denial is a violation of immigration regulations that can lead to serious consequences due to unlawful presence.

The new rule significantly restricts these actions. Undergraduate students may not transfer between universities or change academic programs or degree levels within their first year of study, unless DHS’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) grants an exception for extenuating circumstances. We do not yet know if you are permitted to change colleges if you are continuing in the same major; more guidance will be forthcoming.

Graduate students are prohibited from changing programs or transferring to other schools at any point during their degree.

F and J students are only permitted to move to a higher degree level after completing a degree. Whether a particular dual degree, MBA, JD, professional program, or other credential is treated as the same or a higher level may depend on SEVIS classifications and further guidance.

Pursuing another degree at the same or lower level is not allowed, although the rule notes some ambiguity around how degree levels are defined. 

Please check with International Services before making any academic program change, particularly if this is your first academic year.

The rule requires undergraduates to remain at the institution that issued the initial I-20 and in the original program for at least one academic year, unless SEVP authorizes an exception. Adding a concentration or minor does not seem to be prohibited. 

The current guidance doesn’t clearly resolve if adding or dropping a second major or changing your academic affiliation within Cornell are prohibited program changes. The answer may depend on whether the change alters your SEVIS program information or educational level. 

Remaining at Cornell does not remove the new requirements. If you're moving to a higher educational level—for example, admitted to a graduate program—you must work with International Services to obtain a new I-20 or DS-2019 and request an extension of stay before beginning the new program. 

Starting another program at the same or a lower educational level is prohibited, and graduate students face additional restrictions on changing programs or educational objectives. The rule’s treatment of some professional and combined-degree pathways remains unclear, so please contact us early to review your plan.

The rule doesn’t stop you from submitting a graduate school application. It affects whether you may begin and remain in a new program in F or J status. Moving to a higher educational level may be permitted with new immigration documentation and an extension of stay or international travel and reentry. Beginning another program at the same or a lower level is generally prohibited.

If you are in the U.S. with D/S status and apply for F-1 OPT by March 18, 2027, you do not need to file an I-539 extension—just the standard I-765 work authorization application. 

If you apply after March 18, you will need to file both the I-765 and I-539 with USCIS, along with the associated fees. If you travel outside the U.S. and reenter after the rule's effective date, you will be required to file both the I-765 and I-539.

If you are in the U.S. with D/S status and apply for J-1 AT by March 18, 2027, you do not need to file for an extension. However, if you travel outside the U.S. and reenter after the rule's effective date, you will be required to file the I-539 to extend your stay for the academic training period.