The End of “Duration of Status”: F-1 and J-1 Students Now Get a Fixed Admission Period

For decades, many international students entering the United States did not receive a specific date by which they had to leave. Their Form I-94 instead showed “D/S,” meaning duration of status.

That changes September 15, 2026.

A final Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule replaces duration of status with fixed periods of admission for F academic students, J exchange visitors, and I representatives of foreign information media. For students arriving for the fall semester, understanding the date on the I-94 will now be especially important.

What Replaces Duration of Status?

Under the previous system, an F-1 student admitted for duration of status could generally remain while pursuing an authorized course of study or practical training and complying with the requirements of F-1 status.

Under the new rule, F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants admitted on or after September 15 receive a specific Admit Until Date.

For F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants, admission is generally tied to the program length shown on Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 and cannot exceed 4 years plus a 30-day departure period.

A program that takes longer than the authorized period will therefore require another step.

Staying Longer May Require an Extension of Stay

Students who need additional time must request an extension of stay from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

For an F-1 student, that generally means obtaining an updated Form I-20 and filing the required extension application with USCIS. J-1 exchange visitors similarly need the appropriate Form DS-2019 and an extension filing.

USCIS must receive a timely extension application on or before the authorized admission period expires. A timely filed application generally allows the student or exchange visitor to remain in an authorized period of stay while USCIS decides the request.

Do not treat the I-94 expiration date as the day to start thinking about an extension. Students who know they will need additional time should work with their designated school official or program sponsor well in advance to determine which USCIS filing will be required.

The new procedure is also behind the September 15 revisions to Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

An Expired Admission Period Can Now Trigger Unlawful Presence

This may be the most consequential change.

Under the duration-of-status framework, F and J nonimmigrants generally did not begin accruing unlawful presence merely because a calendar date on an I-94 passed. A status violation typically required a formal finding before unlawful presence began.

The fixed-period system creates a clearer deadline. Once the authorized period of stay expires, unlawful presence can generally begin accruing unless a timely extension or another basis for authorized stay applies.

That distinction can have serious future immigration consequences, including potential inadmissibility after sufficient unlawful presence followed by departure from the United States.

Know Your Date, Not Just Your Program

International students now need to consider two timelines: the academic program and the immigration period authorized by USCIS or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The New York immigration attorneys at Sharma Law Associates help F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and their families understand status requirements and immigration filings affected by changing federal rules.

If you are unsure how the end of the status duration affects your studies, extension, or employment authorization, call Sharma Law Associates at 646-846-4221, contact us online, or schedule a consultation before your authorized stay becomes an immigration problem.