Travel considerations
International travel on or after September 15, 2026, generally results in a new Form I-94 with an AUD instead of D/S. Consult the ANU DSO Office before traveling.
International students
Duration of Status rule change.
Frequently asked questions about the DHS final rule replacing Duration of Status with a fixed Admit Until Date for F-1 students.
Last updated 8/12/2026This page reflects ANU's current understanding of the rule and will be updated as federal guidance develops.
About this rule
Duration of Status (D/S) rule change
On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule eliminating Duration of Status for F-1 students — 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.. It takes effect September 15, 2026.
For more than 30 years, most F-1 students were admitted for D/S — allowed to remain as long as they maintained status. Beginning September 15, 2026, most new F-1 students (and F-2 dependents) will instead receive a fixed Admit Until Date (AUD) on their Form I-94. Because guidance from DHS, the Department of State, USCIS, CBP, and SEVP is still developing, ANU's guidance may change.
Understanding D/S
A CBP officer determines how long an F-1 student may remain at entry and records it on the Form I-94 — separate from the visa, which only allows travel to a port of entry. Under D/S, schools could extend an I-20 without a USCIS filing, and students could transfer, change levels, or continue practical training under the same admission.
Effective date
Published July 17, 2026; effective September 15, 2026. As a major rule, Congress may review it under the Congressional Review Act, though overturning it requires House, Senate, and presidential action and is uncommon. DHS will announce any change in the Federal Register.
Quick facts
Key terms
The rule changes how authorized stay is recorded — it does not change requirements for maintaining F-1 status, the length of an academic program, or ANU's ability to issue immigration documents for eligible F-1 students.
Admit Until Date (AUD)
The date on Form I-94 when authorized F-1 admission expires.
- Programs under 4 years: I-20 Program End Date + 30 days
- Programs over 4 years: 4 years from I-20 Program Start Date + 30 days
- Students on OPT: EAD end date + 30 days
Duration of Status (D/S)
The current system — being replaced by AUD for admissions on or after September 15, 2026.
Extension of Stay
A request to USCIS for additional authorized time before the AUD passes.
Form I-94
DHS's official record of admission, classification, and authorized period of stay.
Affected populations
Who this affects
F-1 academic students and F-2 dependents admitted on or after September 15, 2026, will receive a specific AUD instead of D/S.
What’s changing
- A specific AUD replaces “D/S” on the Form I-94
- Admission generally runs to the I-20 end date or approved EAD date, not to exceed 4 years
- Students must monitor their AUD and act before it expires
- Students may request an Extension of Stay from USCIS, or depart and re-enter to receive a new AUD
- A 30-day grace period follows program or authorized-activity completion
What’s NOT changing
- Eligibility for F-1 status
- Admission requirements or program length
- ANU's ability to issue Forms I-20 for the full expected program length
- Eligibility for CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT
- SEVIS reporting or visa issuance procedures
- There is no lifetime 4-year limit on F-1 status
4 yrs
4 years is not a maximum
The rule limits the current period of admission, not total time studying. Students needing more time can request an Extension of Stay or receive a new admission period after travel and re-entry.
Current F-1 students
Admitted before September 15, 2026?
You generally do not need to take immediate action. Most current F-1 students admitted for D/S continue under the existing system until they depart and re-enter, file an Extension of Stay, change status, or receive a new admission period for another reason.
Form I-94 matters
After each entry, verify your Form I-94's admission date, classification, and AUD are correct, and correct any errors promptly.
If a program runs past the AUD
You may need to file Form I-539 with USCIS, or depart and re-enter to obtain a new admission period. The DSO Office will provide guidance as more becomes available.
Immediate actions ANU recommends
1Continue maintaining F-1 status as usual
2Keep a valid passport; begin renewal early if it's expiring soon
3Review the Form I-94 after each U.S. entry
4Contact the DSO Office before international travel if you're unsure how the rule affects you
5Monitor ANU communications for updates
6Rely on official ANU and government sources — not social media
In detail
Overview of changes in the final rule
Select a topic to expand it.
The AUD will generally be the earlier of the I-20 program end date or 4 years from admission. CBP may also limit admission based on passport expiration, though the regulation doesn't directly address this.
Under D/S, DSOs could update SEVIS program dates without USCIS approval. Under the new rule, students needing time beyond their AUD must generally request an Extension of Stay from USCIS — for extending a program, transferring schools, changing academic levels, or continuing practical training.
The ANU DSO Office will first determine whether you qualify under existing F-1 requirements. Acceptable reasons include approved academic/medical delays or continuing authorized OPT/STEM OPT; unacceptable reasons include academic probation, suspension, or demonstrated unwillingness to complete coursework.
If approved, the DSO updates SEVIS and issues a new I-20 — but a SEVIS update alone may not extend authorized stay if the AUD occurs before the new program end date.
File Form I-539 with the filing fee, an updated I-20, and evidence of continued F-1 eligibility, before the AUD passes. USCIS makes the final decision.
- Filed before the AUD (outside the 30-day grace period): you may generally remain and continue authorized activity while pending.
- Filed only during the 30-day grace period: you may remain while reviewed, but authorized employment may not continue until approval.
Leave the U.S. and re-enter in F-1 status with a valid I-20, valid F-1 visa (unless exempt), a passport valid at least 6 months out, and a valid EAD if applicable. CBP issues a new I-94 with a new AUD on re-entry.
Consider visa validity, appointment availability, processing delays, and travel restrictions before choosing — consult the ANU DSO Office.
- Approved: USCIS issues a new I-94/AUD via the I-797 approval notice; you may continue your program as long as F-1 requirements are met.
- Denied: you generally lose authorization to remain and should depart to avoid unlawful presence; this may affect degree completion or authorized employment.
Admission is generally based on program length, up to 4 years — not a 4-year cap on studying. ANU may continue issuing I-20s for programs beyond 4 years; you may remain beyond the initial period if you maintain status and obtain any required Extension of Stay.
The F-1 grace period drops from 60 to 30 days. Students admitted for D/S before September 15, 2026, keep the 60-day grace period under transition provisions until they receive a new AUD (via travel, an approved extension, or another qualifying event).
The rule defines an “educational objective” as your major/field of study and educational level — covering changing majors, adding another degree, changing levels, or pursuing a second degree at the same level.
UndergraduatesMay not transfer schools, change majors, or change levels during the first academic year. After that, these changes are generally permitted if F-1 requirements are met.
Graduate students (Master's, Doctorate)Generally cannot change their educational objective at all after entering the U.S. — no changing field, degree program, or level, and no transferring institutions — until the current objective is completed.
Example: an M.S. or Ph.D. student cannot switch fields; a student cannot add a second degree mid-program; a Ph.D. student whose advisor relocates cannot transfer to follow them.
Dependents generally receive an AUD aligned with the principal student's authorized stay. If the principal files an Extension of Stay, dependents generally need to as well (often via a joint I-539). Dependents already in D/S before September 15, 2026, generally don't need immediate action.
Under D/S, students generally didn't accrue unlawful presence simply by exceeding a program end date. Now, remaining beyond the AUD without an approved or timely Extension of Stay may result in unlawful presence:
- 180+ days: possible 3-year re-entry bar
- 1 year+: possible 10-year re-entry bar
Applies to F-1 students in the U.S. on September 15, 2026, admitted for D/S, and maintaining status. They won't automatically get a new AUD — they continue until a future event (travel, status change, or Extension of Stay) requires a new admission period.
Students remain under the current system until the later of their I-20 program end date or OPT/STEM OPT EAD expiration, but no later than 4 years past September 15, 2026:
- F-1 students: maximum transition date November 14, 2030 (includes legacy 60-day grace period)
- Timely filing Form I-765 for OPT/STEM OPT by March 18, 2027 removes the need for a separate Extension of Stay
- Travel after September 15, 2026 ends transition protections — CBP issues a new AUD with a 30-day grace period
A student who began a bachelor's before the rule change, is maintaining status on September 15, 2026, and has an I-20 end date after that continues under transition provisions through graduation with no immediate action. If more time or Post-OPT is needed, they work with the DSO Office and, if required, file an Extension of Stay before their authorized stay expires.
Frequently asked questions
Filter by topic.
Students who complete a program on or after September 15, 2026, are barred from starting another program at the same or lower educational level.
This is a personal decision — the ANU DSO Office cannot advise changing travel plans solely because of this rule. If admitted on or after September 15, 2026, your I-94 will show a fixed AUD (generally your program end date or 4 years from admission, plus 30 days; for OPT, the EAD end date plus 30 days). Weigh passport/visa expiration, your I-20 end date or OPT period, potential delays, and travel restrictions. Contact the DSO Office beforehand and check your new I-94 after returning.
No. A valid F-1 visa remains usable for travel as long as you're otherwise eligible to return. A visa lets you request entry; it doesn't determine how long you may stay.
No. Your AUD on the I-94 — not your visa — determines how long you may remain after admission.
Name, date of birth, immigration classification, Admit Until Date, and port of entry.
Contact the CBP Deferred Inspection Site nearest you and bring your I-20, passport, and I-94.
Most F-2 dependents entering on or after September 15, 2026, receive an AUD instead of D/S, generally aligned with the principal student's authorized stay — there's no separate dependent admission period.
No. The 4-year figure caps the initial admission period, not total time to complete a program or pursue post-graduation authorization. The 30 days before program start and the grace period after completion don't count toward the limit. If you need more time, work with the DSO Office on an Extension of Stay before your AUD passes.
Leaves remain governed by existing F-1 regulations and ANU policy, but because your admission period now has a fixed AUD, extended interruptions may need additional immigration planning. Consult the DSO Office as early as possible.
Request a SEVIS Transfer Out through the DSO Office before September 14, 2026, with your acceptance letter from the new school. Starting September 15, 2026, undergraduates cannot transfer before completing one academic year at ANU; after that, transfer may be possible.
Under current rules, the change must be complete by September 14, 2026. At ANU it is now too late, because major changes are processed only during break week, which occurs after September 15. Beginning September 15, 2026, undergraduates must complete one academic year in their current major before changing.
Request a SEVIS Transfer Out through the DSO Office before September 14, 2026, with your acceptance letter. Starting September 15, 2026, graduate students cannot transfer — they may only transfer to begin a new, higher-level degree after completing their current one.
Under current rules, the change must be complete by September 14, 2026 — at ANU it is now too late, because major changes are processed only during break week after September 15. Beginning September 15, 2026, graduate students cannot change majors at any point; they may begin a new, higher-level degree after completing their current one.
Yes, for permitted academic progression (e.g., Bachelor's Master's Ph.D.). Request the transfer within your grace period. You may also need to file an Extension of Stay to complete studies or apply for OPT — your new school's international office can help.
If you finish before September 15, 2026 — yes, though be ready to explain your reasoning to USCIS, CBP, or a consular officer if asked. If you finish on or after September 15, 2026 — no, this is prohibited.
The same rule applies: finishing before September 15, 2026 generally permits it (be ready to explain your reasoning if asked); finishing on or after that date prohibits another program at the same or lower level.
Yes, they are all master's level.
It depends on your most recent U.S. entry. Entered before September 15, 2026, and haven't departed and re-entered since? You keep 60 days. Entered on or after September 15, 2026? You're on the new 30-day grace period. If you remain in the U.S. and file Form I-765 for Post-OPT by March 18, 2027, you may not need a separate Extension of Stay.
No — a grace period only follows degree or authorized-training completion. If the DSO Office terminates your SEVIS record for an Authorized Early Withdrawal, you have 15 days to depart. This is unchanged by the new rule.
No — only if you need time beyond your AUD. For example, if admitted for 3 years but you finish in 2, you may not need one for Post-OPT as long as you're within your authorized stay and OPT eligibility.
Confirm your expected graduation date with your academic advisor. If delays are due to compelling academic or medical reasons, contact the DSO Office promptly about an I-20 program extension. Extensions may not be granted for academic probation or suspension, course retakes, or non-academic/non-medical reasons. After September 15, 2026, students needing more time must apply for an Extension of Stay with USCIS.
It's the USCIS application for an Extension of Stay or change of nonimmigrant status. It is not an I-20 extension, a work-authorization request, filed through SEVIS, or something the DSO approves — USCIS alone decides.
- 1. Work with the DSO Office on an I-20 extension and/or Post-OPT/STEM OPT application.
- 2. File Form I-539 after receiving the updated I-20 (plus Form I-765 if applying for OPT/STEM OPT).
- 3. File before your current authorized stay expires.
- 4. USCIS reviews and decides — possibly requiring biometrics, an interview, or proof of financial resources.
Not automatically — but a timely filing may let you remain while USCIS decides.
- Filed before your 30-day departure period begins: may remain up to 240 days while pending, continuing studies and (if eligible) on-campus employment or CPT.
- Filed during the 30-day departure period: may remain and continue studies, but not employment or CPT, until approved.
Before your AUD expires (which includes the 30-day period after program/OPT completion). Don't wait — contact the DSO Office as early as possible.
You are generally not eligible for a standard extension — you may need to explore reinstatement or departing and applying for a new I-20. Contact the DSO Office immediately.
There is no single right answer — weigh existing travel plans, visa validity and appointment wait times, pending applications, travel restrictions, cost, and academic, research, or family considerations. Consult the DSO Office before deciding.
No immediate change. If you travel internationally on or after September 15, 2026, your new admission falls under the fixed-date rule. If you neither travel nor file an Extension of Stay, your D/S admission is limited by the transition deadline: November 14, 2030 for F-1 students.
Your I-94 should show a fixed AUD instead of D/S. Review it after each entry to confirm accuracy.
Re-entry generally places you under the new system: your I-94 will show an AUD (the earlier of your I-20 end date or 4 years from admission), and CBP may also consider passport expiration.
Generally yes — re-entry after September 15, 2026, subjects you to the new fixed-period system.
Promptly retrieve and review your new Form I-94 — classification, AUD, name, and passport info. Contact the DSO Office immediately if you find an error.
Not necessarily — travel isn't prohibited, but travel after September 15, 2026 may place you under the new fixed-period system. Consult the DSO Office with questions.
No — eligibility requirements are unchanged; only how the length of authorized stay is determined changes.
Eligibility is unchanged, but if your AUD expires before your program ends, you must obtain additional authorized stay. A timely Extension of Stay filing may allow continued on-campus employment or CPT for up to 240 days while USCIS reviews.
No — it's a temporary bridge while USCIS reviews a qualifying, timely filed application.
Eligibility is unchanged, but some students may need an additional authorized period depending on entry date, transition eligibility, travel after September 15, 2026, current AUD, and expected OPT period. Review your documents with the DSO Office before completing your program.
Yes — F-1 students admitted for D/S who are in the U.S. on September 15, 2026, and covered by transition provisions may not need a separate Extension of Stay for Post-OPT/STEM OPT if they timely file Form I-765 by March 18, 2027. Traveling and re-entering on or after September 15, 2026, forfeits this benefit.
Generally no — the 240-day continuation doesn't apply to Post-OPT. You generally cannot begin Post-OPT employment until both the Extension of Stay and EAD are approved and your EAD start date has occurred.
The existing rule remains: a timely filed STEM OPT application gets an automatic 180-day work authorization extension from the end of Post-OPT, which ends once USCIS adjudicates the application.
Impact depends on your circumstances. Contact the DSO Office immediately.
Most entering on or after September 15, 2026, receive a fixed AUD instead of D/S, generally aligned with the principal student's authorized stay — there's no separate admission period for dependents.
Generally yes — dependents typically need additional authorized stay and are often included in the same filing. Consult the DSO Office before filing.
Both may receive a new AUD after re-entry — each family member should check their own I-94; don't assume identical admission records.
F-2 dependents may need to change classification, independently qualify for another status, or depart. Consult the DSO Office before filing.
No — F-2 spouses remain ineligible for employment authorization, and existing study and activity restrictions continue to apply.
Review each Admit Until Date after international travel, keep passports valid, plan Extensions of Stay and travel together, and contact the DSO Office before changes to employment, status, or extended stays.
Official resources
Rely on official ANU and government sources — not social media — for guidance.
Questions about your situation?
Contact the ANU DSO Office
Consult the DSO Office before international travel, filing an Extension of Stay, or changing employment or status.