New Fixed Time Period of Admission Rule FAQ

What is happening?

The DHS/ICE (Department of Homeland Security-US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has published a new rule to end “duration of status” (D/S) for F, J, and I nonimmigrants.  The final rule was published in the Federal Register on Friday July 17, 2026 and becomes effective on September 15, 2026. The new rule is entitled Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media.

The rule replaces “duration of status” admissions with fixed end dates on Form I-94, requires students and exchange visitors to file formal extension applications with USCIS, shortens grace periods, and imposes new limits on program changes.

What is changing?

There are several important changes affecting F1 students under the new rule and especially F1 students enrolled in graduate programs.

Period of Stay

The Department of Homeland Security is eliminating the “Duration of Status” (D/S) notation that F-1 visa holders currently receive when entering the U.S. Previously and until the effective date on September 15, 2026, international students and scholars were admitted with a D/S notation, meaning “duration of status”. The allowed period of stay defaults to the end date on the I-20 form for F-1 visa holders, which is usually the academic or research program end date. Under the new rule your allowed length of stay will be limited to the shorter of your academic program length as indicated on Form I-20, or four years.

Changes in Educational Objectives

Upon implementation of the rule on September 15, 2026, an F-1 student at the graduate degree level or above may not change educational objectives at any point during their program of study. Additionally, a nonimmigrant who has completed a program after September 15, 2026, in the United States as an F-1 student at one educational level may not maintain, be admitted, or otherwise be provided F-1 status through a program at the same educational level or a lower educational level.

Transfers

An F-1 student at the graduate degree level or above may not transfer at any point during their program of study, unless an exception is authorized by SEVP for extenuating circumstances that may include, but are not limited to, a school closure or a school’s prolonged inability to hold in-person classes due to a natural disaster or other cause.

Additionally, if the new program to which the student changes or transfers will not be completed within the authorized admission period the F-1 student must apply for an Extension of Status (EOS) in the manner and on the form designated by USCIS.

Extensions of Stay

Generally, under the new rule, an extension of an F1 student’s Period of Stay will now be adjudicated and granted (or denied) by USCIS through an application for Extension of Stay.  During a one-time transition period for implementation of the new rule, OPT applications/STEM extension applications requested within six months of the effective date will not be required to obtain an Extension of Stay approval.

Post-completion Grace Period

The new rule reduces the F-1 grace period after completion of an academic program or OPT/STEM from 60 to 30 days, during which the student must prepare for departure or take steps to maintain lawful status.  F nonimmigrants present in the United States on the final rule’s effective date who are validly maintaining that status and who were admitted for D/S to remain in the United States in F status maintain the current 60-day grace period for departure or transition to another lawful status, unless they travel and re-enter the US after September 15, 2026, at which point they will be given a date-specific Admit Until Date (AUD) including the new 30-day grace period.  F status students who apply for an EOS will similarly receive a fixed-date period of stay including a 30-day grace period.

Does this affect me if I’m already in the US on an F1 visa?

Yes. If you are already in the U.S., your status will be converted to a fixed end date — the program end date listed on your current I-20, but no more than four years from the rule’s effective date. If you need more time, you will need to apply for an Extension of Stay through USCIS.

Students in D/S status on the rule’s effective date of September 15, 2026, continue their programs, only needing to apply for EOS if their program exceeds the program end date on their I-20, or 4 years after the effective date of the rule, whichever comes first.

What if my program takes longer than four years to complete?

The Humphreys University MBA program is a 27-month program.  We do not expect that it will take longer than four years to complete, but your program end date listed on your I20 will be the end of your duration of status under the new regulation.

Can I add an additional concentration to my MBA program?

After the effective date of the rule, we do not anticipate the ability to extend the MBA program through additional coursework taken in additional concentrations.

Prior to the effective date you may request a program extension from a HU DSO for one additional concentration. We will allow current students who by the end of the Summer 2026 term have completed at least one quarter of study to extend their program for one additional concentration (12-month extension on their SEVIS record from their existing program end date), in advance of the rule effective date of September 15, 2026.  Requests for additional concentration must be received by September 7, 2026. No exceptions.

Requests to extend the program with additional concentrations received after the effective date of the new regulations on September 15, 2026, will require an application to USCIS and approval for an Extension of Stay (EOS) via a form I-539.  Students who timely submit EOS applications prior to their Admit Until Date (AUD – the program end date plus 30 days) may continue to enroll while the application is pending. Applications submitted prior to the program end date allow for the continuation of CPT employment for a maximum of 240 days while the application is pending.  Applications submitted during the 30-day grace period do not allow for the beginning or continuation of employment until the application is approved.  EOS applications can be submitted 180 days prior to the AUD.

How do I apply for an Extension of Stay?

F-1 applicants will generally need to timely file their EOS application, meaning that USCIS will need to receive the application on or before the date the authorized admission period expires. This application timeframe for timely filing an EOS application will include the 30-day period of preparation for departure allowed after the completion of studies or any authorized practical training. However, if the extension application is received during the 30-day period of preparation for departure provided following the completion of studies, the student status may continue studying but may not continue or begin engaging in practical training or other employment until the extension request is approved and, as applicable, an EAD is issued.  To avoid this scenario, DHS encourages nonimmigrants to file their EOS applications within the six months preceding the expiration of their stay.

To apply for an extension of your immigration status you will need to first make a request to your DSO for an extended I-20 form. You will then need to submit that signed form along with a completed and signed Form I-539 to USCIS to request an Extension of Stay. USCIS will charge fees for filing the application and may require other information.

If USCIS denies a request for an extension, and the period of admission for the student and his or her dependents has expired, then the student and his or her dependents will need to immediately depart the United States.

Do I remain in status while an EOS application is pending?

Students who timely file an extension of stay (EOS) application before their Admit Until Date (AUD) expires, including before the start of the 30-day departure period, will be authorized to continue pursuing a full course of study after the expiration of the admission period until USCIS adjudicates the EOS application and may continue on-campus employment, off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship, and curricular practical training for up to 240 days while the application is pending.

However, students who file an EOS during the 30-day departure period must stop all employment while the EOS is pending and may only resume work if the extension is approved.

What are valid reasons for extensions being granted by USCIS?

Currently, your DSO and academic department can determine if there are justifiable reasons for a program extension.  These can include medical or academic reasons, or delays in program completion due to a natural disaster. USCIS has generally maintained these standards in the new rule and will use its own discretion when determining if a program extension is warranted.

What are some reasons that an extension request may be denied by USCIS?

If the extension is due to delays in program completion from poor academic performance, failing classes, or otherwise failing to make normal academic progress, USCIS can deny an extension request. If the person is deemed to have exceeded the normally allowed time for a given academic program, an extension also might be denied. Proof of sufficient financial resources for the additional period will also be required, and an application could be denied if funding is deemed insufficient. USCIS may review cases as well for possible fraud issues, and violations of required non-immigrant intent – which requires F visa holders to maintain the intention of returning to their home country.

Can I transfer schools or change my academic program?

The new rule significantly restricts this in certain circumstances. Pertaining to enrollment in the HU MBA program, as graduate students you will be prohibited from changing programs or transferring schools at any point during your degree after the rule becomes effective except for very specific situations such as the closure of a school.

Can I transfer schools after completing my degree?

You may transfer to another program at a higher academic level upon completion of your degree.  You will need to apply to UCSIS for an Extension of Stay in conjunction with your program transfer.

Will changing to a new program at a higher educational level require extension approval?

Yes. Changing your academic level to a higher degree program will require you to receive approval from USCIS for an extension of stay.

Can I pursue another degree at the same degree level?

No.  Any nonimmigrant who has completed a program at one educational can only begin another program at a higher educational level as an F-1 student and is prohibited from changing to the same or a lower educational level while an F-1 student.

However, the limits of study at the same or lower educational levels will be applied prospectively after the effective date of the rule. Any programs completed prior to the effective date of the rule will not be counted towards the limitations on degrees at the same level.

How is OPT/STEM affected?

F-1 students currently in the US who are applying for post-completion OPT or STEM extension have a six-month period following the effective date of the rule to submit an OPT application without having to also file an I-539 Extension of Stay application. Applications filed for OPT/STEM after the end of the six-month grace period will also require an application for Extension of Stay.

What if I have additional questions?

Please contact a Humphreys University DSO at hu.dso@humphreys.edu