»End of Duration of Status and New Academic Restrictions

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a rule that ends “duration of status” (D/S) for F and J nonimmigrants, effective on September 15, 2026

The rule eliminates the D/S policy for international students, scholars, and dependents replacing it with a defined period of stay, plus a 30-day grace period. Anyone who wishes to remain in the U.S. beyond that time must apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an extension of status (EOS).

Read the full rule

The Federal Register has published the new rule.

The rule is called "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."

You can read it on their site.

See full rule

Entry to the United States

Based on the new rule, admission to the United States for F/J students and scholars now comes with a fixed expiration date: the program end date of your form I-20 or DS 2019 plus 30 days, not exceeding 4 years. In most cases, those physically in the U.S. when the rule takes effect will be permitted to retain D/S for up to four years, provided they maintain their status and do not travel abroad or require a program extension.

Extensions of stay must be approved by USCIS.
The F-1 grace period is reduced to 30 days.
J-1 grace period remains the same, 30 days.

Travel and Reentry After September 15, 2026

All F and J visa holders who leave the United States and seek reentry after September 15, 2026, become subject to the new rule. If approved for reentry, they will receive an admit until date (AUD) with a fixed period of admission.

Academic Limitations

New regulations limit undergraduate and graduate students’ flexibility to transfer between U.S. institutions or change “educational objectives” (change of majors and degree level).

Undergraduate students will be required to complete one academic year at Chapman University before they can apply to change their degree objective or transfer to another SEVP approved school.
Graduate students and above will be required to complete their initial intended academic program at Chapman. They will no longer be eligible to transfer out or change programs or level objectives.
F-1 students who have completed a program at one educational level in the U.S. may not pursue another program at the same or lower educational level.
SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances.

Extension of Status (EOS)

New Petitioning Process

Students seeking an extension of status will begin by requesting a recommendation for extension from a Designated School Official (DSO) or Responsible Officer (RO). If approved, you will receive an updated Form I-20/DS-2019 showing the extended program end date.

Then the student or scholar may request the extension of status (EOS) through:

applying to USCIS

OR
international travel and reentry, receiving a new admit until date (AUD) from CBP.

Transition Period for Current F and J at Chapman

F and J nonimmigrants who are in the United States for duration of status on September 15, 2026 may remain in the U.S. in F or J nonimmigrant status until:

the program end date noted on their I-20 or DS-2019

OR
the expiration date on their employment authorization document (EAD) for F-1 students on OPT/OPT STEM and F-2 dependents.

After either the program end date or the expiration date, there is then a 60-day grace period.

The total time cannot exceed four years from September 15, 2026, plus the grace period.

FAQ

We understand this rule change raises many questions for Chapman’s international community. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions about the new rule or your own circumstances.

We encourage you to review the FAQ on Rule Ending D/S.

ISS will continue to monitor the change and provide more guidance as it becomes available. Stay informed by keeping an eye out from communications from ISS.