For more than three decades, most F-1 international students have been admitted to the United States under Duration of Status (D/S) rather than receiving a fixed expiration date for their stay. Under this system, students could remain in the U.S. as long as they maintained their F-1 status and complied with immigration regulations.
That long-standing framework is about to change.
The Final Duration of Status Rule completed review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on June 17, 2026, and is now awaiting publication in the Federal Register. Once published, the rule will become effective 60 days later, giving international students, universities, and employers a limited window to prepare.
Although the final regulatory text has not yet been made public, government records and higher education organizations indicate that it is expected to retain many of the major provisions outlined in the earlier proposed rule, including fixed admission periods and shorter grace periods.
When most international students enter the United States with an F-1 visa, their Form I-94 typically shows "D/S" (Duration of Status) instead of a specific departure date.
This means students can legally remain in the country as long as they:
Rather than tracking a specific expiration date, students maintain legal status through continuous compliance with immigration regulations.
The Final Duration of Status Rule represents one of the most significant changes to the F-1 student immigration system in decades.
Instead of allowing students to remain in the United States for the duration of their academic program under "D/S," the rule is expected to establish fixed admission periods, require additional USCIS filings in certain situations, shorten grace periods, and change how unlawful presence is calculated.
Although the final published text has not yet been released, universities and immigration professionals are already preparing because the rule is expected to become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
As of July 9, 2026
| Confirmed | Awaiting Publication |
| Final rule completed OMB review on June 17, 2026. | Exact wording of the final regulation. |
| Publication in the Federal Register is expected soon. | Whether every provision from the proposed rule remains unchanged. |
| The rule becomes effective 60 days after publication. | Implementation guidance from DHS and USCIS. |
| No additional public comment period. | Agency FAQs and operational instructions. |
This distinction is important because, while the rule itself has completed federal review, the public cannot verify every provision until the official text is published.
Based on the information available from the completed rulemaking process and the earlier published proposal, the Final Duration of Status Rule is expected to include the following major changes once published:
Instead of receiving "D/S" on their I-94, students could receive a fixed expiration date tied to their program length.
This means students would need to carefully monitor their authorized stay rather than relying solely on maintaining status.
The proposal would reduce the current 60-day grace period after program completion to 30 days.
This shorter timeline could leave students with less time to:
For many graduating students, planning ahead would become even more important.
Under the proposal, students needing additional time may have to submit a formal application to USCIS instead of relying primarily on SEVIS updates.
This process could involve:
These requirements may add more complexity to maintaining lawful status.
Another major proposed change involves unlawful presence.
Instead of relying primarily on later government determinations, unlawful presence could begin automatically once a student's authorized admission period expires.
Accumulating more than 180 days of unlawful presence may trigger multi-year re-entry bars under existing immigration law, making timely planning even more critical.
One of the most significant expected changes is replacing Duration of Status (D/S) with a fixed admission period recorded on each student's Form I-94.
For most F-1 students, that admission period is expected to be up to four years, including students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT. Students who need additional time beyond their authorized stay would generally need to request an extension through USCIS rather than relying solely on SEVIS updates.
Another expected provision would limit certain program or major changes during a student's first academic year.
While students would still have options, changing programs early could require additional review and may no longer be as straightforward as under the current D/S framework.
The exact implementation details will become clear once the final rule is published.
Although the final regulatory language has not yet been published, students should avoid making decisions based solely on social media discussions or unofficial summaries.
Instead, consider these best practices:
Being proactive now can help reduce stress if new requirements take effect.
When the final rule is published, understanding the details—not just the headlines—will be essential.
To help international students prepare, GoElite is hosting a free live online event featuring leading immigration professionals who will provide a detailed breakdown of the final rule and answer attendees' questions live. The event is designed to help students understand what changed, how it may affect their specific status, and what actions to take next.