Duration of Status for F-1 Students

What is Changing for F-1 Students?

Summary of DHS Proposed Regulations Effective September 15, 2026

The new Duration of Status rule (effective September 15, 2026) may affect the information on this page. The Global Education Office is reviewing the rule and will revise this page and related materials as we finalize new processes.

Issues	Current Regulation	New Regulation beginning September 15, 2026
Arrival period	30 days before program start date	30 days before program start date
Admit Until Date	Duration of Status (D/S). No fixed end date while maintaining status.	Fixed term based on Form I-20 end date or four years, whichever is shorter.
Extending your program	Extension approved by the PDSO/DSO with academic documentation.	Must file Form I-539 with USCIS and pay the required fee, or depart and re-enter with an updated Form I-20 and valid visa.
Transferring institutions	Eligible at any time.	Undergraduates: after first academic year. Graduates: after program completion except in limited SEVP-approved circumstances.
Changing educational levels	May move between educational levels.	Only progression to a higher level permitted with Extension of Stay. Lateral or lower-level study not permitted.
Changing major	UG: anytime. Graduate: if admitted.	UG: after first year only. Graduate: not permitted.
Grace period after completion	F-1: 60 days	F-1: 30 days

Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Graduates: Applying for Post-Completion OPT

Current F-1 status holders will have six (6) months following the effective date of the rule in which to submit the OPT application without having to also file an application to Extend/Change Nonimmigration Status (Form I-539). The six-month transition window for post-completion OPT applications is anticipated to end 18 March 2027. This means fall 2026 graduates and Spring 2027 graduates will have the opportunity to apply for post-completion OPT without the Form I-539.

Applications for post-completion OPT submitted after the six-month transition period will have to file the Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigration Status (Form I-539) with USCIS and the OPT application (I-765) plus associated fees for both.

Grace Period Permissions

F-1 status holders already in the US before the rule takes effect will keep their 60-day grace period after the end of their program or end of OPT, assuming the status holder does not travel outside the US.

F-1 status holders who enter the US after the effective date will only receive the 30-day grace period.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will my Admit Until Date (AUD) be updated on my I-94?

For F-1 status holders already in the US, your I-94 AUD will not update while you remain in the U.S. However, if you depart and re-enter on or after 15 September 2026, your current “D/S” will be replaced with a fixed date. See “How do I know my Admit Until Date” below to determine your actual date.

The Admit Until Date (AUD) may be different than the Program End Date on the Form I-20, Typically:

For programs less than four years: The AUD is the Program End Date, plus 30 days for departure.
For programs longer than four years: The AUD is four years from the Program Start Date, plus 30 days for departure.
For students engaging in optional practical training: The AUD is the employment end date on the Employment Authorization Document, plus 30 days for departure.

What will happen when I travel outside the U.S. in the future?

To return to the U.S., you must carry a valid passport (at least six months past re-entry), a valid F-1 visa sticker, and a Form I-20 signed for travel by a P/DSO within the required period.

Form I-20 for currently enrolled students = must be signed within the last 12 months

Form I-20 for post-completion OPT = must be signed within the last 6 months

Always consult your P/DSO in the Global Education Office for an updated travel endorsement on your Form I-20 before leaving the US.

If your fixed admission date on your I-94 has passed or is approaching while you travel internationally, you risk being denied re-entry by Customs and Border Protection.

What happens if I need my program to be extended?

F-1 STUDENTS

Before 14 September 2026

If you need to extend your program, you must submit a request to your P/DSO by 1 September 2026. You must provide proof of compelling academic or medical reasons for the delay, for example, unexpected research issues or documented illness, and show the necessary financial support for the period of extension requested.

If your P/DSO approves your extension, they will update your record in SEVIS and issue you a new Form I-20 with a new program end date. You will not need to file an application with USCIS to update your new program end date BEFORE 14 September 2026.

15 September 2026 onwards from within the U.S.

You must request a program extension from your P/DSO in the Global Education Office

This must be verified with evidence of need (eg, academic, medical, etc.) and financial evidence to support the extension.

The P/DSO must issue you an updated Form I-20

You must submit the updated Form I-20 and any other relevant or requested evidence with your Form I-539 to USCIS. There is a fee payable to USCIS*.

*As of 20 July 2026, the online filing fee is $420. The USCIS fee schedule is linked here for the most up to date information.

NOTE: The Form I-539 is a personal application, so your P/DSO cannot legally advise a student on how to complete it. If a student has any questions about the I-539, our recommendation is to consult with an immigration attorney. You can find a search engine of immigration attorneys here.

Or use

William Hummel, Partner, NC Board Certified Specialist in Immigration Law
6100 Fairview Rd, Ste 200
Charlotte, NC 28210
704-442-8000
Direct: 704-926-9619
[email protected]
garfinkelimmigration.com

When should I apply for an Extension of Status (EOS)?

You may file an EOS as early as 180 days before your AUD. Per the USCIS website, EOS applications should be submitted “at least 45 days before your stay expires OR as soon as you determine your need to extend status.”

How long does an Extension of Status (EOS) application take?

USCIS does not publish a mandatory lead time for EOS applications, but the practical answer is 3 to 6 months before your Admit Until Date (AUD). This is based on current processing realities.

USCIS processing times for I-539 and related EOS filings have historically ranged from a few months to over a year depending on caseload and form type. Even if your case is straightforward, you cannot count on a fast turnaround. At a minimum, you need enough time to:

Receive a biometrics appointment notice and attend the appointment at your nearest Application Support Center
Respond to a Request for Evidence (RFE) if USCIS issues one — RFEs typically give you 87 days to reply
Receive a decision before your original admission period ends

For practical purposes, a 6-month lead time means you have a cushion for an RFE response, a slow biometrics scheduling cycle, and still have weeks remaining before your program end date if USCIS returns the case with additional questions. It also gives the P/DSO adequate notice to prepare updated Form I-20 documentation and supporting materials for students in longer programs.

Can I use premium processing?

No, Extension of Stay applications are not eligible for premium processing.

Is a program extension guaranteed?

No. The Form I-539 is an application and can be denied by USCIS. Some reasons why an extension may be denied include poor academic performance, failing classes, or otherwise failing to make normal academic progress. If the person is deemed to have exceeded the normally allowed time period for a given academic program, an extension could be denied. Proof of financial resources for the additional time period will be required, and an application can be denied if financial evidence is deemed insufficient. USCIS may review cases for possible fraud and violations of required non-immigrant intent, which requires F-1 status holders to maintain the intention of returning to their home country.

Can I still work while my Form I-539 extension application is pending with USCIS?

Provided that your Extension of Stay application (I-539) was received by USCIS before your program end date as listed on your Form I-20, then you can continue to work for 240 days. The count begins the day after your program end date. This provision does not apply to post-completion OPT, OPT STEM extension, or Academic Training as those are offerings available by request after a program is completed.

What happens if my Extension of Stay application is denied?

If U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denies the extension, F-1 status holders and any accompanying dependents must depart the United States according to their original Admit Until Date or immediately if that date has passed.

I’m completing one degree and have been admitted to a higher-level degree program. Do I have to file an I-539 extension application with USCIS in order to start my new academic degree program?

From within the US

Yes. Changing your academic level to a higher degree program will require you to receive a new Form I-20 from a P/DSO, and then to file an I-539 form with USCIS.

This applies to:

High school graduates matriculating to bachelor’s programs.
Bachelor’s graduates matriculating to master’s programs.
Master’s graduates matriculating to doctoral programs.

From outside the U.S.

Alternatively, you could take the extended Form I-20, depart the U.S., and return to the US seeking readmission by showing the extended form.

NOTE: In order to do this, you must have a valid visa or plan to apply for a new visa sticker and also NOT be from a country on a travel ban or restriction list.

The most recent restrictions on foreign nationals were published on 16 December 2025; however, this is subject to change at any time. Any future updates will be published on White House website.