Last verified: September 16, 2026
As of September 15, 2026, F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors no longer receive admission to the United States under duration of status (D/S). The new rule gives you a fixed period of admission with a specific end date on Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record.
If you hold F-1 or J-1 status, the rule may affect how long you can stay, when you need to request more time, and how you plan around study, Optional Practical Training (OPT), travel, and reentry. The rule does not change health insurance requirements, but your admission dates may affect how you time coverage.
TL;DR
F-1 and J-1 admissions changed on September 15, 2026, from duration of status to fixed end dates. The change affects extensions, training, academic changes, and reentry. Health insurance requirements remain separate, but the new timing can affect coverage planning.
What changed with the end of duration of status for F-1 and J-1 visa holders?
Under duration of status, you could remain in the United States while you continued to meet the requirements of your F-1 or J-1 status, without a fixed departure date on Form I-94. As of September 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) replaced D/S with a fixed period of admission.
The new rule changes several parts of the F-1 and J-1 process:
| Before | Under the new rule |
|---|---|
| Form I-94 with D/S instead of a specific end date | Form I-94 with a specific end date |
| No standard four-year maximum period of admission under D/S | Program-based admission period of up to four years |
| F-1 60-day departure period after a program, OPT, or STEM OPT | F-1 30-day departure period; J-1 remains 30 days |
| Program extensions through a school or sponsor under D/S without a separate USCIS EOS | Extension of Stay (EOS) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or departure and reentry for a new admission period |
| Fewer restrictions on F-1 school transfers and changes of major or education level | New restrictions based on education level and timing |
| Post-completion OPT and STEM OPT under D/S | EOS may apply if the fixed admission period does not cover training, subject to transition rules |
| F-2 and J-2 stay tied to the main F-1 or J-1 visa holder under D/S | Extension requirements may apply when the main visa holder needs more time |
Travel and reentry can also move you into the fixed-period system. If you leave the U.S. and are readmitted after September 15, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will issue a new Form I-94 with a fixed end date based on your updated program information and admission eligibility.
How long is the new F-1 and J-1 fixed period of admission?
The F-1 fixed period of admission is based on the program dates on your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and cannot exceed four years. For J-1 exchange visitors, DHS bases the fixed admission period on the program dates on Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, subject to the same four-year maximum.
Your Form I-94 lists an Admit Until Date (AUD), which marks the end of the period DHS authorizes for your stay. The F-1 four-year limit is a maximum, not a standard admission period for every student.
F-1 students may still enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date. After you complete your program or authorized post-completion OPT or STEM OPT, the F-1 30-day grace period applies. J-1 exchange visitors continue to have a 30-day departure period after completing their exchange program.
What happens if you were already admitted for duration of status?
If you were already in the U.S. under D/S and were properly maintaining F-1 or J-1 status on September 15, 2026, you do not automatically need to request a new fixed admission period. Transition rules allow you to remain through the applicable end date on your Form I-20, Form DS-2019, or Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
If you need to stay beyond the allowed period, you must request an EOS from USCIS or leave the U.S. and seek a new period of admission when you return.
What happens if you need more time to stay in the U.S.?
If you need more time beyond your AUD, you may need to apply for an EOS with USCIS.
F-1 Extension Steps
For an extension of stay F-1 student request, work with your Designated School Official (DSO) first. Your DSO updates your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record and issues a new Form I-20 with the required EOS recommendation. Then, timely file Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, pay the required fee, provide any required biometrics, and show that you remain eligible for F-1 status.
J-1 Extension Steps
J-1 extension steps can vary by exchange program. Work with your Responsible Officer (RO) to confirm the program extension process and any USCIS requirements that apply to your stay.
How do the new F-1 rules affect OPT, STEM OPT, cap-gap, and academic changes?
The DHS fixed-period admission rule affects F-1 training periods and certain academic changes.
OPT and STEM OPT
For OPT and STEM OPT, the basic eligibility rules remain in place. If you were admitted under D/S and were in the U.S. on September 15, 2026, you may qualify for a transition exception. Timely file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT by March 18, 2027. Meeting the requirements means you do not need a separate EOS application.
Cap-gap
Existing protections remain in place for eligible F-1 students with a timely filed cap-subject H-1B petition. You receive an automatic EOS and any applicable employment authorization until April 1 of the relevant fiscal year or the validity start date of the approved H-1B petition, whichever comes first.
Academic Changes
The rule adds limits on school transfers and changes of major or education level. Students below the graduate level cannot make certain changes during the first year of study unless SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances. Students at the graduate level or above face stricter limits on school transfers, changes of major, and changes of education level. DHS may issue more guidance on the academic change rules.
How do the new rules affect J-1, F-2, J-2, and M-1 visa holders?
The fixed-period admission rule affects each visa category differently.
J-1 Exchange Visitors
The J-1 fixed admission period is based on the dates on Form DS-2019, subject to the applicable program rules and four-year maximum.
F-2 and J-2 Dependents
F-2 and J-2 dependents continue to receive a period of stay tied to the main F-1 or J-1 visa holder. If the main visa holder needs an EOS, dependents who need additional time must meet the applicable extension requirements.
M-1 Vocational Students
M-1 vocational students used a fixed-period admission system before the DHS rule. The end of D/S does not create the same change for M-1 students.
What does the duration of status change mean for student health coverage dates?
The DHS rule does not create or change a health insurance requirement. The practical connection is timing. Your immigration dates can affect how long you may need coverage.
Does my student insurance need to match my I-94 date?
Your insurance follows its own policy terms and coverage dates. The student insurance coverage dates admit until date relationship can be useful when planning coverage. Compare your policy end date with the Admit Until Date on Form I-94.
How can a health insurance gap after graduation OPT happen?
A health insurance gap after graduation OPT can happen when school coverage ends before your next coverage begins. Insurance after F-1 grace period shortened from 60 days to 30 days requires closer attention to your coverage end date.
What should you check before changing insurance plans?
Review the new plan for limits or waiting periods. For example, some international student plans have waiting periods for pre-existing conditions, and a new plan may restart an applicable waiting period.
For coverage during extension of stay F-1, check if your current plan can continue through the additional period. If enrollment ends while an EOS remains pending, confirm what coverage remains available.
What should you check when travelling and re-entering the U.S.?
Student health insurance when travelling and re-entering US may require another review after you return. A new Form I-94 may have a different Admit Until Date, so compare the new date with your coverage period and review coverage for time outside the U.S. or in transit.
Coverage needs can change when your immigration timeline changes. Review your current plan or available student insurance choices if your expected stay, training period, or reentry dates no longer match your original coverage period.
What should F-1 and J-1 visa holders check under the new rules?
The new student visa rules September 15 2026 make it more important to track your immigration dates and program records. Check your Form I-94, Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, SEVIS record, and any USCIS filing deadlines that apply to your stay.
If you are checking the rules for a student you are helping, review the same dates, records, and filing deadlines.
For questions about the duration of status F-1 J-1 change, use official DHS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), SEVP, and USCIS resources. Contact your DSO or RO for guidance related to your school or exchange program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the end of duration of status F-1 change mean?
What does the admit until date I-94 student information mean?
Does the F-1 four year limit mean every student receives four years?
What changed with the F-1 30 day grace period?
Disclaimer: Insubuy and this article do not provide immigration or legal advice. For questions about your individual status, contact your DSO, RO, or the appropriate U.S. government agency.
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