Shortened Grace Period

Not all students will immediately lose the 60-day grace period.

Students who were previously admitted to the U.S. under Duration of Status (D/S) and who remain continuously in the U.S. on and after September 15, 2026 will generally retain their current 60-day grace period under the transition provisions.

This benefit continues until they receive a new Admit Until Date (AUD) through either:

• An approved Extension of Stay (EOS), or
• Re-entry to the U.S. after international travel.
• Once a student receives a new AUD under the new system, the student will generally become subject to the new 30-day grace period rules.

Students should carefully consider the immigration implications of international travel after September 15, 2026.

A student who remains in the U.S. under the transition provisions may continue to benefit from the existing 60-day grace period. However, if that student departs the U.S. and later re-enters, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will generally issue a new I-94 with a fixed Admit Until Date (AUD). As a result, the student will generally become subject to the new 30-day grace period instead of the historical 60-day grace period.

The grace period is available only to students who successfully complete their academic program or authorized practical training and otherwise maintain F-1 status.

A grace period is generally not available to students who:

• Fail to complete their degree program
• Withdraw from school without proper authorization
• Are terminated from SEVIS
• Engage in unauthorized employment
• Fail to maintain full-time enrollment without authorization
• Otherwise violate the terms of their F-1 status

This was true before the September 15, 2026 rule changes and remains true under the new regulations. Students who fall out of status should not assume they have an additional 30-day or 60-day period to remain in the U.S.

Does OPT Still Exist?

Yes.

The new regulations do not eliminate Optional Practical Training (OPT) or the STEM OPT Extension. Students who otherwise meet eligibility requirements may continue to apply for OPT and STEM Extension. The ability to gain practical work experience related to a student's field of study remains an important benefit of F-1 status.

While OPT and STEM OPT remain available, the process for obtaining and maintaining these benefits may become more complex because students must now pay attention to both their employment authorization and their immigration admission period.

Under the previous Duration of Status (D/S) system, students generally only needed to monitor their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and comply with OPT reporting requirements.

Beginning September 15, 2026, students may need to monitor two separate timelines:

• Employment authorization dates (listed on EAD card)
• Immigration admission dates (Admit Until Date or AUD)

These dates may no longer be the same.

Under the new regulations, students applying for OPT or STEM OPT may also need to file an Extension of Stay (EOS) application using Form I-539 in addition to the traditional Form I-765 employment authorization application. This represents a significant change from the current process.

Historically:

• Student receives OPT recommendation from ISS
• Student files Form I-765 online
• Student pays I-765 filing fee
• USCIS issues employment authorization card

Under the new framework, some students may need to:

• Obtain an OPT recommendation from ISS
• File Form I-765 for employment authorization
• Pay I-765 filing fee
• File Form I-539 for an Extension of Stay
• Pay I-539 filing fee
• Receive approval from USCIS for both processes, if required.

Because these additional applications may increase costs and processing times, students should begin planning for OPT much earlier than they may have in the past.

Special transition provisions exist for certain students who were already in the U.S. before September 15, 2026.

Students who:

• Remain in the United States on September 15, 2026,
• Complete their degree program by Spring 2027, and
• File eligible OPT applications during the transition period which ends on March 18, 2027.

May continue using many aspects of the current OPT application process without filing an Extension of Stay application. The transition period generally extends through March 18, 2027.

Students should consult ISS to determine whether they qualify for these transition benefits.

STEM OPT remains available for eligible students who have earned a qualifying STEM degree and who meet all STEM OPT requirements. The 24-month extension has not been eliminated by the new regulations.

However, students on STEM OPT will also need to pay close attention to both their employment authorization and immigration admission dates. In some circumstances, additional immigration filings may be required to maintain lawful status while continuing employment.

Students with pending STEM OPT applications may continue to benefit from existing automatic employment extension provisions when filing requirements are met.

Special transition provisions exist for certain students who were already in the U.S. before September 15, 2026.

Students who:

• Remain in the United States on September 15, 2026,
• Have an OPT employment authorization end date on or before March 18, 2027, and
• File eligible OPT applications during the transition period which ends on March 18, 2027.

May continue using many aspects of the current OPT application process without filing an Extension of Stay application. The transition period generally extends through March 18, 2027.

Students should consult ISS to determine whether they qualify for these transition benefits.

International travel may have a greater impact under the new regulations.

Each time a student enters the U.S., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may issue a new I-94 with a new Admit Until Date (AUD). This could affect a student's immigration timeline and grace period eligibility. Students on OPT or STEM OPT should carefully review their I-94 after every entry into the U.S. and provide a copy to ISS.

Students should always consult ISS before traveling internationally while an OPT, STEM OPT, or Extension of Stay application is pending.