The Department of Homeland Security’s sweeping overhaul of how international students and exchange visitors are admitted to the United States is now official. On July 17, 2026, DHS published its final rule — “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” — in the Federal Register (91 FR 44976). The rule takes effect September 15, 2026, 60 days after publication, and has been classified as a major rule subject to Congressional Review Act review.
The core change ends the decades-old “duration of status” (D/S) framework, under which F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors could remain in the U.S. for as long as they maintained their program. In its place, DHS will admit F, J, and I nonimmigrants for a fixed period. Students will now receive a date-specific “Admit Until Date” (AUD) printed on their Form I-94, reflecting the program end date on the Form I-20 or DS-2019, not to exceed four years, plus a grace period. Anyone needing more time must proactively file an extension of stay (Form I-539) with USCIS — including fees and biometrics — rather than simply relying on their school’s certification.
The rule also tightens several related rules. The post-completion grace period for F-1 students shrinks from 60 days to 30 days, matching the J and M categories. Graduate-level F-1 students generally may not change their educational objective, and undergraduates generally may not change majors or transfer schools until after their first year, absent limited SEVP-approved exceptions. English-language-training students face a 24-month aggregate admission cap. J-1 exchange visitors face parallel fixed-period admissions capped at four years.
Importantly, the rule includes transition provisions. Individuals admitted for duration of status before September 15, 2026, and physically present in the U.S. on that date retain certain flexibilities initially, but must file for an extension to remain beyond their program end date or four years — whichever is shorter. Upon any reentry after the effective date, they will receive a date-specific I-94 with the new 30-day grace period. Litigation challenging the rule is widely expected, and the Congressional Review Act process could also affect implementation.
For the millions of international students and scholars in the U.S., the practical takeaway is to track program end dates closely, plan for extension filings well in advance, and budget for the added USCIS fees and processing time that fixed admission periods now require.
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Source: Reddit r/immigration