Elimination of Duration of Status – FAQs for Students & Scholars (F/J)

On Friday, July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a Final Rule that changes regulations for international students and scholars with F or J visa status.

Beginning September 15, 2026, students will be admitted to the U.S. with a fixed end date known as an “Admit Until Date.” This replaces what is known as “Duration of Status (D/S),” which allows individuals to enter the U.S. with a flexible timeline. The old framework allowed students to work directly with their schools to extend immigration documents, transfer, or begin new programs in compliance with Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) requirements. Beginning September 15, students and scholars may need to take additional steps to extend their stay in the U.S., beyond working with Tufts International Center. The rule also imposes certain academic restrictions described below and shortens the F-1 grace period.

The final rule is set to go into effect on September 15, 2026.

All final rules in the U.S. are subject to congressional review. Before September 15, this review or litigation (legal challenges) could stop or delay implementation. We fully expect most aspects of this rule, including the start of fixed entry limits, to go into effect on September 15. However, the final rule states that the academic restrictions described below could be delayed for a period of up to two years.

Students and scholars in F/J status do not need to take any immediate action. However, we recommend taking the following steps ahead of September 15:

• Review the information on this page and communications sent by the International Center.
• Review your I-20 or DS-2019 end date. If you anticipate that you will need an extension to complete your program or research, speak to your I-Center Advisor to determine whether you are eligible for an extension before the final rule takes effect.

When a nonimmigrant arrives at a U.S. port of entry, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer determines how long the traveler is permitted to stay in the U.S. and records this information in an electronic record called a Form I-94.  The I-94 is different from the F-1 or J-1 visa in your passport, which is only used for entry or re-entry to the U.S. and does not determine your authorized length of stay.  

Under current rules (before September 15, 2026), international students and scholars are given an end date of “D/S.” This “D/S” stands for “duration of status,” and means that you are permitted to remain in the U.S. for as long as you are maintaining your status and hold a valid I-20 or DS-2019 document. You work directly with the I-Center to shorten or extend your document, and you are permitted to transfer schools or begin a new program in the U.S. without needing to leave or submit an application to the U.S. government to extend your legal status.  

Starting September 15, 2026, Customs and Border Protection will begin issuing I-94s with set end dates. If you travel into the United States at any point on or after September 15, 2026, your I-94 will show a specific date known as an “Admit Until Date” (AUD). This date will be based on your I-20/DS-2019 end date plus a 30-day grace period (reduced from previous 60-day grace period for F-1 students) or a maximum of four years, whichever is shorter.  If you need to extend your Admit Until Date due to a program extension or because your program is longer than four years, you will have to take one of two possible steps: 

1. Travel and re-enter the U.S. to get a new Admit Until Date OR 

1. Apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) through United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).  

The exact processes related to these options require guidance from government agencies. The International Center will provide updated information as it becomes available.  

Yes. This rule does not impact students’ ability to enroll in a program that is over four years. The International Center at Tufts can still issue you an I-20 or DS-2019 for the full period of your program as long as you have met all requirements for admission. However, students who have a program of longer than four years or who need to extend their I-20 or DS-2019 for remaining academic requirements will need to either travel and re-enter the U.S. at some point during their program or file a government application to obtain an updated Admit Until Date.

No. The new rule does not impact your ability to travel internationally during your program, as long as you have a valid visa for re-entry. While some students may be able to retain some aspects of the Duration of Status framework by not traveling after September 15 (see section on Transition Rules), the benefits are limited. We fully expect that most students may need to travel internationally during their program, either for academic or personal reasons, and that they will therefore be subject to the fixed admission change.

A grace period is a window of time after your program or any post-completion work authorization that allows you to remain in the U.S. and prepare for departure, transfer schools, or change immigration status.  As a result of this rule, grace periods for F-1 students will be reduced from 60 to 30 days for students who enter or re-enter the U.S. after September 15, 2026.* The J-1 30-day grace period will remain the same.  

*Please see Transition Rules section 

Aside from imposing a fixed admission period and shortening the F-1 grace period to 30 days, the new rule also introduces restrictions related to changing programs, academic levels, and transferring to a new institution.  

Limits on transfers and program changes: The final rule limits students’ ability to change their “educational objective” while studying in the U.S. These educational objectives include major and academic level.  

• F-1 students below graduate level may not transfer to another school, change majors, or change educational level (e.g., bachelors to masters) within the first year* of studies without a government-issued exception. Transfers and educational changes beyond this date may be limited for students who are on academic probation, suspension, or who have otherwise not made satisfactory academic progress as determined by USCIS.  
• F-1 graduate students may not transfer to another school, change programs, or change educational level at all prior to completing educational objectives for the program for which their I-20 was issued.  

*While government clarification is needed, it is assumed that this refers to an academic year (one fall and one spring semester) rather than a calendar year.  

Rules on repeating degree levels: The final rule states that F-1 students may not pursue a second degree at the same or lower academic level as the one previously pursued (e.g., Master's to second Master’s OR PhD to Master’s). DHS has clarified that this restriction applies only to programs completed after the rule’s effective date; programs completed prior to September 15, 2026 do not count towards this rule.  

Work authorization for students in F-1 or J-1 status is not changing as a result of this rule. Rules for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), and Academic Training (J-1 AT) still apply. However, there may be additional steps required for students pursuing work authorization in the U.S. after their Admit Until Date.

Students who apply for OPT (F-1 students) or Academic Training (J-1 students) will need to submit an Extension of Stay via Form I-539 (fee required) to acquire a new AUD covering the work authorization period.* 

If a student needs to file an extension of stay with USCIS, on-campus employment and off-campus authorization for severe economic hardship will receive an automatic extension of employment authorization for up to 240 days while the application is pending. CPT employment will also be automatically extended up to 240 days or up to the end date authorized by the International Center while a timely filed extension is pending.  

*Please refer to the Transition Rules section regarding transition provisions for applying for OPT. 

Non-student J-1 exchange visitors (including short-term scholars, researchers, professors, and student interns) entering or re-entering  the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026 will be admitted for a fixed period of admission. However, existing eligibility requirements, program objective considerations, and category-specific regulations remain the same.  

J-1 Scholars who enter the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026 will receive an Admit Until Date (AUD) which will determine an exchange visitor's authorized period of admission. If additional time is needed beyond that date, the exchange visitor generally must obtain another lawful period of authorized stay before the current admission expires, through either:  

1. A) Travel and re-entry the U.S. to get a new Admit Until Date.
2. B) Application for an Extension of Stay (EOS) through United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).

The final rule does not change the maximum program durations established by the Exchange Visitor Program regulations. For example, a J-1 research scholar or professor may still be in the category for up to five years. However, J-1 exchange visitors whose programs or appointments extend beyond their Admit Until Date as determined by Customs and Border Protection will be required to apply for an extension of stay. 

Since Admit Until Dates (AUD) are usually determined by DS-2019 end date and many scholars are on renewable one-year contracts, DHS has stated that they will create a new process so that scholars are not required to file yearly extensions of stay with the government. However, the details of this process are pending further agency guidance.  

Like F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors, F-2 and J-2 dependents entering the United States on or after September 15, 2026 will be admitted for a fixed period of admission rather than Duration of Status (D/S). Their I-94 will include an Admit Until Date (AUD) establishing how long they are authorized to remain in the United States. 

If the F-1 or J-1 principal needs to extend their authorized stay beyond their current Admit Until Date, any dependents will generally also need to obtain an additional period of stay. Dependents may be included in the same extension of stay application as the principal applicant. Each family member should always individually review their I-94/AUD after travel, regardless of traveling together or separately.  

Students and scholars who need to file an Extension of Stay through government filing will be subject to a $420 application fee (online filing). Employees should speak to their department about fee reimbursement options. There may also be additional fees related to fingerprinting or any optional consultations with immigration attorneys.

Alternatively, students or scholars who choose to travel instead of filing the government petition to extend their Admit Until Date will be subject to the cost of travel.

While these costs are generally the responsibility of the individual, students and scholars may not need to pay additional fees if they carefully coordinate already-planned travel to incorporate this new process.

Transition rules apply to current F-1/J-1 students, alumni, and J-1 scholars who are in the U.S. with Duration of Status (D/S) noted on their Form I-94 before September 15, 2026. Please note that these transition rules no longer apply if you leave the U.S. and re-enter on or after September 15.  During the transition period:  

• Your Form I-94 will continue to show “D/S” (Duration of Status) rather than a fixed Admit Until Date (AUD).  

• F-1 students retain their 60-day grace period.  

• You may continue in your current academic program/academic activities in the U.S. until:  

• Your current I-20/DS-2019 end date (up to a maximum of 4 years) plus the applicable grace period or  

• Your current OPT/STEM OPT EAD expiration date plus the applicable grace period  

• F-1 students/alumni who remain in the U.S. under transition provisions and who apply for OPT/STEM OPT on or before March 18, 2027, will not be required to submit an EOS application to USCIS in addition to their OPT petition.  

Tufts International Center supports F-1 and J-1 students from pre-arrival until after graduation. You can find information about your advisor based on your school on the International Center website. The International Center will provide information, resources, and guides to help you through these new steps. While maintaining status and reviewing immigration regulations are individual responsibility, we do not expect students to navigate this process on their own. Please email internationalcenter@tufts.edu with questions or further information about connecting with your advisor. The I-Center also hosted a Town Hall (for F/J students, alumni, and scholars) on Monday, August 10th.Slides used for this presentation will be shared with students and scholars via email.