Duration of Status Changes
Duration of Status Changes for F-1 Students
On September 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will implement major changes to F-1 student immigration regulations. These changes eliminate the longstanding concept of Duration of Status (D/S) and replace it with a fixed period of admission which will be called Admit Until Date (AUD). Under the new rule, F-1 students and their dependents will be admitted to the U.S. for a specific period of time rather than for the duration of their academic program. Students who need additional time to complete their degree program may need to complete additional immigration steps through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
These changes affect current students, future students, students on OPT or STEM OPT, and F-2 dependents. They also create new requirements related to program extensions, travel, academic changes, school transfers, and monitoring immigration documents. The information on this website is intended to help Metro State students, faculty, and staff understand these changes and prepare accordingly. Because federal guidance continues to evolve, International Student Services (ISS) will update these pages as additional information becomes available.
The information on this website is intended to be a helpful overview of the new rules and regulatory changes included in the final rule but is not legal advice.
In addition to replacing Duration of Status (D/S) with a fixed admission period (AUD), the new regulations introduce several other significant changes that may affect F-1 students. Students who need additional time to complete their academic program will no longer be able to rely solely on an I-20 extension issued by International Student Services. Instead, some students may need to file an Extension of Stay (EOS) application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) using Form I-539 or travel abroad and reenter the U.S. to obtain a new period of admission. This makes advance planning and accurate program end dates more important than ever.
The new rule also places restrictions on certain academic changes. Students will generally be prohibited from pursuing an additional degree at the same or lower educational level after completing their current program. Additionally, undergraduate students will not be permitted to change their major, transfer schools, or change educational levels during their first academic year in the U.S. Graduate students may face even more significant restrictions on changing programs or transferring institutions. As a result, it is critical that students carefully consider academic decisions and consult International Student Services before making changes to their educational plans.
Finally, the post-completion grace period for many F-1 students will be reduced from 60 days to 30 days. This means students will have less time after completing their studies or OPT/STEM Extension to prepare for departure, transfer to another program, apply for a change of status, or take other immigration-related actions. Students should begin planning well in advance of graduation to avoid potential immigration complications.
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Topic |
Current rule |
New rule (Effective September 15, 2026) |
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F-1 students are allowed to study for “duration of status” (D/S). |
F-1 students have a fixed period of stay (AUD) in the U.S., up to 4 years or duration of program (I-20), whichever is shorter. |
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F-1 students may obtain program extensions approved by ISS with valid academic or medical reason, start new programs, and transfer without requests to USCIS. |
F-1 students will need to apply for an extension of stay by filing Form I-539 with USCIS. Students with a valid F-1 visa may travel and re-enter to obtain a new period of admission instead. |
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F-1 students are allowed to earn two or more degrees at the same or lower education level. F-1 students can freely change major, school, and program level. |
F-1 students will be prohibited from earning more than one degree at the same or lower education level. F-1 undergraduate students will be prohibited from changing major, school, or program level within the first academic year. |
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F-1 students have a 60-day grace period after program completion. |
F-1 students will have a 30-day grace period after program completion. |
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Important Disclaimer: The information provided on this page reflects our current understanding of the September 15, 2026 regulations and may change as additional guidance, policy interpretations, court decisions, or implementation procedures become available. International Student Services cannot provide legal advice, and students remain solely responsible for maintaining their immigration status and complying with all federal immigration requirements.