Duration of Status Changes

• F and J visa holders who enter or return to the U.S. after Sept. 15, 2026 will be given an Admit Until Date “AUD” on their I-94 entry record.
• The AUD will be limited to your Program End Date listed on your form I-20 or DS -2019 or four years (whichever is shorter) plus a 30-day grace period.
• NOTE: Any F1 student who enters or returns to the U.S. after Sept. 15, 2026 will have a reduced grace period from 60 days to 30 days.

• If a student requires additional time to complete their academic objective beyond their AUD they are required to timely file a Form I-539 and pay the filing fee for an Extension of Stay application with USCIS prior to their AUD expiration date. 
• USCIS will adjudicate the I-539 application and has the descretion to approve or deny.
• A student may also have the option to depart the U.S. and seek reentry with an updated Form I-20 or DS-2019 and valid visa. Customs and Border Protection would have descretion to process the extension of the AUD at the port of entry. 

• Undergraduate Students: May only change major or transfer schools after 1 year of study.
• Graduate Students: Prohibited from changing majors at any point during their program of study. May be eligible to transfer schools during their program of study, but only if SEVP approves an exception based on “extenuating circumstances.”

• F1 students will no longer be permitted to pursue subsequent degree at the same or lower level. 

• Keep Duration of Status (D/S) until their I-20 or DS-2019 Program End Date or until 11/14/2030 (whichever is earlier),
• F-1 students retain 60-day Grace Period.
• If student needs additional time to complete their degree, they will need to file an Extension of Stay application with USCIS and D/S no longer applies.

IMPORTANT: If student travels internationally after Sept. 15, 2026, they are no longer subject to the transition rules and the new rules and assigned AUD will apply.

IMPORTANT: If student travels internationally after Sept. 15, 2026, they are no longer subject to the transition rules and the new rules and assigned AUD will apply.

• You will be assigned a date specific AUD on your I-94.
• F-1 students will be given a 30 day Grace Period.
• Any change in academic objective that requires additional time past the AUD will require filing an Extension of Stay application with USCIS. 

• F-1 and J-1 Students who timely file an Extension of Stay and already have on-campus work authorization will be permitted to continue on-campus work for up to 240 days while the EOS application is processing.
• F-1 Students who submit an EOS to USCIS after their Program End Date on their I-20 will not be permitted to work while EOS is pending with USCIS. Students can continue studying with a pending application.

• Alumni who are in the U.S. and remain after Sept. 15, 2026 are given a transition period until March 18, 2027 for filing for OPT or STEM Extension
  • Must continue to maintain status
  • Retain D/S through the duration of your employment authorization dates (up until November 14, 2030  for F-1 Students) ( up until October 15, 2030 for J-1 Students).
  • F-1 students retain the legacy 60-day Grace Period
  • Not required to file EOS with OPT/STEM Extension Application

• Alumni will be subject to the fixed I-94 AUD instead of D/S in these cases:
  • travel internationally and reenter the U.S. after Sept. 15, 2026
  • apply for OPT or STEM Extension after March 18, 2027
  • extend J-1 Academic Training after Sept. 15, 2026
  • begin a new eligible academic or exchange program.