Duration of Status
Elimination of Duration of Status
On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule to replace Duration of Status (D/S) admission for F-1 academic students with a fixed period of admission. Instead of remaining in the United States for as long as F-1 status is maintained, students will be granted admission for a specific period tied to their academic program and noted in their immigration record.
What is changing?
Under the new rule, F-1 students generally will be admitted for the length of their program of study, up to a maximum of four years. A 30-day period before the program start date and a 30-day period following program completion are also included.
Students who need additional time to complete their studies, authorized training or continue another eligible academic activity will typically need to file an Extension of Stay application.
Additional resources
Learn more about what the Department of Homeland Security's final ruling means for F-1 students studying in the United States using the links below.
This page will continue to be updated as new information becomes available. This page was last updated on July 20, 2026.