New Rules for F-1 and J-1 Student Visas in the US Starting September 15, 2026

Starting September 15, 2026, F-1 and J-1 visa holders in the US will no longer receive an open-ended “duration of status” notation — instead, Form I-94 will show a specific admission end date, generally capped at four years.

In short

• Instead of an open-ended duration-of-status notation, Form I-94 will show a specific admission end date
• A single admission period cannot exceed 4 years regardless of the program’s actual length
• Extending status requires a separate USCIS application — it’s not an automatic result of a new Form I-20 from the university
• If an extension is denied, no additional 30-day departure period is granted — the country must be left immediately
• Transitional protection for those in the US on September 15, 2026, is capped at four years and doesn’t apply if you’re outside the country on that date

What “fixed period of admission” replaces “duration of status” means

Right now, most F-1 students enter the US with a duration of status (D/S) notation: their Form I-94 carries no specific departure date, and they can remain in the country as long as they’re studying, maintaining status, and completing authorized practical training. Under the new rule, that open-ended notation on Form I-94 is replaced with a specific admission end date — a fixed period of admission.

A program extension approved by the university will no longer, by itself, guarantee that continued presence is lawful. What’s being limited isn’t the coursework itself, but the period of admission granted without a new decision from immigration authorities.

The visa itself is permission to seek entry to the US, and this rule doesn’t shorten how long the visa is valid. A separate decision is made by border officers at entry: they determine the category and the date through which a person is admitted, and that date is what appears on Form I-94.

Once the rule takes effect, it won’t be enough for a student to check the visa’s validity or the program end date on Form I-20. The document that actually governs authorized stay will be Form I-94 with its specific admission end date — and the university will have no way to change that date on its own.

The document that actually governs authorized stay will be Form I-94 with its specific admission end date — and the university will have no way to change that date on its own.

The 4-year maximum admission period: who it doesn’t fit

A single period of admission cannot exceed 4 years — this cap applies regardless of how long the program actually runs. For F-1 students, the admission period is calculated from the program length listed on Form I-20: immigration authorities tie the end date to those dates specifically.

The limit applies not to the coursework itself but to one period of stay granted without a new decision from immigration authorities. That’s why a doctoral program can still run longer than the standard cap, and the actual program length listed on Form I-20 — for medical or research fields, for instance — can exceed 4 years: the coursework itself doesn’t get cut off, but continuing it past the current admission period requires an extension.

Each approved extension can also cover the time needed, but never more than 4 years at once. If a program is shorter — say, a 2-year master’s — the student isn’t automatically granted the full 4-year period: the admission period is tied to that specific program’s dates, not to the maximum allowed. The reverse case is a 6-year doctoral program: the initial admission may still be capped at 4 years, with a separate extension required for the remaining time.

How stay extensions will now be processed

Right now, a university extends the program date in the student tracking system, issues a new Form I-20 — and as long as all status conditions are maintained, a separate application to immigration authorities typically isn’t required. Once the new rule takes effect, that will no longer work: the university itself won’t be able to change the date on Form I-94, and an updated I-20 will only be the first step.

The extension process for an F-1 student who needs an extra semester or year to finish a program works like this:

1. A designated school official enters a new date into the student tracking system and issues an updated Form I-20 recommending an extension — the university confirms the academic need and states the new program completion date.
2. The student files a separate application with US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
3. The application must include: the updated Form I-20, proof of funds for the additional period, evidence of the reason for the delay, and the government filing fee.
4. The agency may additionally request biometric data.

Permission to remain in the country past the date on Form I-94 is no longer granted by the university but by the immigration agency — an extension becomes a separate immigration case rather than an administrative formality. The agency evaluates whether the student has continuously maintained lawful status, kept up a full course of study, and avoided unauthorized work. The reason the program wasn’t completed on time becomes part of the review — the university’s recommendation alone isn’t enough for approval.

an extension becomes a separate immigration case rather than an administrative formality

What’s needed to file an F-1 status extension application

• Updated Form I-20 with an extension recommendation from the universityrequiredmust confirm the academic need
• Separate application filed with USCISrequirednot replaced by the university’s recommendation
• Proof of funds for the additional periodrequired
• Evidence of the reason for the program delayrequiredacademic probation and similar reasons don’t qualify
• Government filing feerequired
• Readiness to provide biometric dataif additionally requested by the agency

What grounds qualify for extending studies

The reason a program wasn’t completed on time becomes part of the immigration review — a university’s extension recommendation alone isn’t enough for approval.

Accepted grounds:

• a change in research direction;
• an unexpected change of academic advisor;
• a documented medical condition;
• a natural disaster, public health crisis, or school closure — these circumstances are evaluated separately from the rest.

Not accepted:

• academic probation;
• suspension from studies;
• repeated course failures;
• repeated inability to complete the program.

The agency states directly that these circumstances alone do not provide grounds for an extension.

For doctoral candidates and researchers, an application can’t simply say “more time is needed for the dissertation.” The documentation needs to show: when the program started, which stages have already been completed, what exactly caused the delay, why the reason wasn’t entirely within the student’s control, how much work remains, and the timeframe planned for finishing it.

Letters from the academic advisor, a work timeline, reports on completed stages, and funding documentation all help demonstrate progress. Separate financial documents are required to show the student can cover tuition and living costs for the requested period.

Filing deadlines and what’s allowed while the application is pending

USCIS must receive the extension application no later than the admission period end date listed on Form I-94. For new students, that period includes an additional 30 days after the program or authorized practical training ends — an application received within this window is formally considered timely.

But that’s a hard deadline, not a target for planning: the 30-day window is the last allowable moment, not the recommended time to file. While the application is pending, the student is allowed to continue a full course of study. Working or starting practical training under a late-filed application, however, is not allowed: a receipt notice alone isn’t enough — a separate work authorization is required.

If a student leaves the US while the application is pending and returns to use the remaining portion of the prior admission period, the immigration agency shouldn’t automatically treat the application as abandoned without review. But if a new Form I-20 with a program end date beyond the prior period is issued upon return, and the border officer grants a new fixed period, the pending extension-of-stay application can be considered withdrawn — while any related work authorization application is not subject to withdrawal. To avoid confusion, it’s worth carrying the application receipt notice and documents showing the intended period of stay. A timely filing is exactly the one that allows studies to continue in full while the review is underway.

What happens if an extension request is denied

If the original authorized period has already ended and the extension application is denied, the student and any dependents must leave the US immediately — no additional 30-day departure grace period is granted after a denial. This differs from a regular status expiration, where such a grace period does apply.

no additional 30-day departure grace period is granted after a denial

When reviewing the application, the immigration officer looks not only at the new Form I-20 but also at the student’s compliance history: full course load, absence of unauthorized work, academic circumstances, and evidence of funding. A formal date update on Form I-20 doesn’t guarantee approval if there are gaps in that history.

A regular extension may not be sufficient if the university updated the program date only after the prior Form I-20 had already expired — meaning the confirmation arrived late. In that situation, the rules call for a separate reinstatement of student status application, not a routine extension request.

Transition period for students already in the US

For students already in the country, transitional protection applies: the old duration-of-status notation doesn’t automatically turn into a violation. The condition for this protection is being physically present in the US on September 15, 2026, in valid F or J status.

The authorized period for these students is set by whichever comes later of two dates: the program end date on the current Form I-20 or DS-2019, or the end date of work authorization. The transitional protection itself is capped at four years from September 15, 2026. For F-1, the prior 60-day departure period is added on top, making the outer limit November 14, 2030. For J program participants, a 30-day departure period applies, making the outer limit October 15, 2030.

These dates don’t mean every student can automatically stay in the country until fall 2030. For example, if a student is in the US on September 15, 2026, and their Form I-20 ends in May 2028, the transition period is tied to May 2028 plus the prior 60-day departure period. If the Form I-20 instead lists a 2032 program end date, transitional protection won’t preserve that full timeframe — an extension will be needed before the four-year cap is reached.

A person’s location specifically on September 15, 2026, carries separate weight. A student who is outside the US on that date will, on their next entry, be processed under the new fixed-date system. An international trip after the rule takes effect can shift a current student from transitional treatment to a fixed period — meaning a new form and its stated date need to be checked after every return.

Special changes: school transfers, changes of major, English-language programs

The final rule separately restricts transfers between schools, changes of major, and pursuing multiple degrees at the same level. Students planning any of these steps need to check in advance which restrictions apply as of the decision date.

For students below the master’s level:

• transferring to another school within the first academic year is not allowed;
• changing a major or educational level within the first academic year is also not allowed;
• an exception may be granted by the student and exchange visitor program under serious circumstances — for example, a school closure or an extended inability to hold in-person classes.

For master’s and doctoral students, the rules are stricter: during the program, they’re barred from changing their educational objective, and transferring to another school is closed off — except where the government program approves an exception for serious circumstances.

A separate provision covers a second degree at the same or a lower level. A student who completes a program in the US after September 15, 2026, will be able to continue on F-1 status at a higher educational level — for example, moving from a bachelor’s to a master’s, or from a master’s to a doctorate. But a second master’s after one already completed, or a move from a master’s down to a bachelor’s, an associate degree program, or a language program, no longer provides grounds for maintaining or newly granting student status.

English-language study is separately restricted: these programs carry a cumulative cap of 24 months, which includes breaks between sessions and annual vacations. Once those 24 months are used, further F-1 stay through language schools alone will no longer be available.

What changes for J-1 program participants

Currently, J category participants generally remain in the US for the full length of their program without a pre-set status end date. Under the new rule, the entry document will list a specific date through which the person is authorized to remain — determined by the program length stated on Form DS-2019. The initial period of stay cannot exceed 4 years.

Participants will additionally be granted up to 30 days before the program starts to prepare, and 30 days after it ends to leave the country.

If a sponsor extends the program and issues a new Form DS-2019, that alone isn’t enough to automatically extend status. When the new program date falls beyond the date listed on the entry document, the participant will need to separately file an extension of stay application. If filed on time, the person can continue participating in the program and authorized work for up to 240 days while the application is under review.

For applications filed no later than March 18, 2027, a separate transition period applies: those participants can continue authorized activity through the date listed on Form DS-2019, even if a decision on the application hasn’t yet been made.

Frequently asked questions

What should you do if the new date on Form I-20 is issued after the prior form’s admission period has already expired

In that situation, a routine extension application isn’t enough, because the university’s confirmation arrived late relative to the prior admission date. The rules call for a separate student status reinstatement procedure instead of a standard extension application. Students should make sure a new Form I-20 is issued before the current admission period expires, not after.

Can you work while an F-1 status extension application is pending

Continuing a full course of study while the application is under review is allowed, but working or starting practical training is not. A receipt notice alone isn’t enough for that — a separate work authorization is required. This matters especially with a late filing, close to the end of the authorized period or the 30-day window for new students.

What happens if an F-1 student leaves the country while an extension application is still under review

Returning to use the remaining portion of the prior admission period isn’t, by itself, treated as an automatic denial of the application. But if a new Form I-20 with a program end date beyond the prior period is issued at entry and the border officer grants a new fixed period, the pending extension-of-stay application can be considered withdrawn. A related work authorization application isn’t subject to withdrawal, though, so it’s worth carrying the application receipt notice and documents showing the intended period of stay.

What happens to student status if someone leaves the US after September 15, 2026, and returns later

A person’s location specifically on September 15, 2026, carries separate weight for keeping transitional protection. If a student was already outside the US on that date, their next entry will be processed under the new fixed-date system on Form I-94 rather than under the transitional rules. An international trip after the rule takes effect can shift a current student from the transitional track to a fixed period, so the new date on the form needs to be checked after every return.

What happens to the visa if the admission period on Form I-94 has expired but the visa itself is still valid

The visa remains permission to seek entry and isn’t shortened by this rule on its own, but the right to remain in the country is governed by the separate admission date on Form I-94, not the visa’s validity. Even with a valid visa, staying past the I-94 date without a timely filed and approved extension or reinstatement becomes unlawful. A valid visa in that situation would only be useful for a new entry, not for continuing the current stay.

Why is the US replacing duration of status with a fixed admission period

The Department of Homeland Security describes these rules as measures against student visa abuse. According to the figures cited, in 2024 nearly 77,000 F-1 students had held student status for more than 10 years since the tracking system launched in 2003, and some had enrolled in programs at the same education level up to 19 times. These cases of extended stays without a clear end date are cited as the reason for moving to a fixed period of admission.

What happens to current status if a university approves a transfer to a different major after the first academic year

After the first academic year, a change of major or educational level for students below the master’s level is no longer automatically barred, while for master’s and doctoral students the ban on changing an educational objective applies throughout the entire program, except where the student and exchange visitor program approves an exception for serious circumstances. This kind of decision is worth coordinating in advance, since it directly affects the date that will appear on Form I-20 and, in turn, the admission period on Form I-94.