DHS Updated Rules for F-1 and J-1 Status Holders

Anyone who holds F-1 Student status, J-1 Exchange Visitor status, and I Media Visas. Our resources will focus on F-1 and J-1 status holders.

15 September 2026

Titled “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 official published rule can be viewed in its entirety here: the Federal Register, 8 CFR 214, 248 and 274a

People	Agencies/Systems	Statuses
PDSO – Principal Designated School Official	CBP – Customs and Border Protection	AUD – Admit Until Date
DSO – Designated School Official	POE – Point of Entry	D/S - Duration of Status
RO – Responsible Officer	SEVIS – Student Exchange Visitor Information System	EOS – Extension of Stay
ARO – Alternate Responsible Officer	SEVP – Student Exchange Visitor Program
	USCIS – US Citizenship and Immigration Services

Because of ECU’s fall semester start date, all new students will be admitted into the US under the current policy, Duration of Status. You will then follow the Current Student guidance below.

We will be contacting all F-1 and J-1 status holders with their documented program end date. Upon receipt of that communication, we can discuss whether that end date is reflective of your current program’s progress and trajectory.

Yes. These changes take effect on 15 September 2026.

Determining your Admit Until Date

If you have entered the country on or before 14 September 2026, your I-94 will not be updated with a specific Admit Until Date. You will determine your date based on the program end date on your current Form I-20 or Form D-2019 plus the applicable grace period. However, the end date is not to exceed 14 November 2030.

Examples:

Entered the US	Status Upon Entry	I-94 States	Program End Date	Admit Until Date	Note
6 January 2021	F-1 Student	D/S	20 December 2026	17 February 2027	The Admit Until Date includes a 60-day grace period. This calculation applies only if the student does not depart and re-enter the US during their program.
16 December 2024	F-1 Student	D/S	15 December 2029	12 February 2030	The Admit Until Date includes a 60-day grace period. This calculation applies only if the student does not depart and re-enter the US during their program.
12 August 2026	F-1 Student	D/S	15 May 2032	14 November 2030	Apply for Extension of Stay to complete program.

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

Understanding Implications of Traveling Outside the US

For F and J visa holders who are present in the U.S. as of the effective date of the rule, it is very important to understand the impact of travel outside the US on or after September 15, 2026. International travel on or after that date will remove you from any “transition plan” discussed elsewhere on this page and place you into the new framework where you are authorized for specific dates of stay on your I-94 with only a 30-day grace period after program completion (or Period of Departure).

For F-1 and J-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.

Assuming you are in the US when the rule takes effect AND you do not depart the US going forward, you will determine your date based on the program end date on your current Form I-20 or Form D-2019 plus the applicable grace period. However, the end date is not to exceed 14 November 2030.

1. Go to the official CBP I-94 website.
2. Select “Get Most Recent I-94/I-95” from the top menu bar.
3. Review the information listed and Accept the Terms of Services by selecting “I ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE”.
4. Enter your information as listed on the passport you most recently used to enter the U.S. and select “NEXT”.
5. You should now be able to view your “Most Recent I-94 Results”. It is important that you ensure all the information on your I-94 record is correct, but especially the following:
   1. Admit Until Date: The exact date you must leave the U.S., which is often different from your visa sticker expiration date and your program end date on your Form I-20/Form DS-2019.
   2. Date of Entry: Should reflect the most recent date of your entry to the U.S.
   3. Class of Admission: F-1 or J-1 (depending on your visa type).

NOTE: If your current F-1 or J-1 status was awarded through an I-539 Change Nonimmigrant Status petition and subsequent I-797A Notice of Application, you will not have an electronic I-94 that reflects F-1 or J-1. Your updated I-94 information is listed on your Form I-797A Notice of Action document.

The Admit Until Date includes the 30-day grace period applied to all F-1 and J-1 status holders.

To return to the US, you must carry a valid passport (at least 6 months past re-entry), a valid F-1 or J-1 visa sticker, and a Form I-20 or DS-2019 signed for travel by a P/DSO or A/RO 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
• Form DS-2019 for current Exchange Visitors = must be signed within the last 12 months

For F and J visa holders who are present in the U.S. as of the effective date of the rule, it is very important to understand the impact of travel outside the US on or after September 15, 2026. International travel on or after that date will remove you from any “transition plan” discussed elsewhere on this page and place you into the new framework where you are authorized for specific dates of stay on your I-94 with only a 30-day grace period after program completion (or Period of Departure).

Always consult your P/DSO or A/RO in the Office of Global Affairs for an updated travel endorsement on your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 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.

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 US
    • You must request a program extension from your P/DSO in the Office of Global Affairs
      • 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
      • F-1 Students: You can find the step-by-step process and necessary documentation your P/DSO needs in the International Student Hub (Program Extension Requests)
    • 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 and/or A/RO cannot legally advise a student or scholar 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.

J-1 EXCHANGE VISITORS

Students: please review this webpage in the International Student Hub and then schedule an individual meeting with your advisor to discuss the possibility of extending your program.

Scholars (short term, research, postdoc):

• • Before 14 September 2026:
    • You can find the step-by-step process and necessary documentation your A/RO needs in the International Exchange Visitor Hub.
    • Extension requests with the applicable financial evidence should be submitted by 1 September 2026.
  • 15 September 2026 onwards from within the US:
    • You must request a program extension from your A/RO in the Office of Global Affairs
      • This must be verified with evidence of need (eg, progress towards research objectives) and financial evidence to support the extension.
      • Detailed steps can be found in the International Exchange Visitor Hub.
    • The A/RO must issue you an updated Form DS-2019
    • You must submit the updated Form DS-2019 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 A/RO cannot legally advise a student or scholar 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.

You may file an EOS as early as 180 before your AUD. Per 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.”

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 or A/RO adequate notice to prepare updated Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 documentation and supporting materials for students and exchange visitors in longer programs.

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

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 and J status holders to maintain the intention of returning to their home country.

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 or Form DS-2019, 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.

If U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denies the extension, F-1 or J-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.

From within the US

Yes. Changing your academic level to a higher degree program will require you to receive a new Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 from a P/DSO or A/RO, 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 US

Alternatively, you could take the extended Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, 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.

Dependent visa statuses (F-2 and J-2) will need to have extensions alongside the principal F-1 or J-1. Dependents should be included in an extension application (Form I-539) with the principal F-1 or J-1. They should not have to apply separately with separate filing fees if their application accompanies the principal alien application.