Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin

New Rule for F-1 Status: What Students Need to Know

July 16, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security has released a new rule that will have a significant impact on nonimmigrants coming to the United States to attend college or university while in F-1 status. The rule includes a grace period protecting those who are already here in F-1 status, though students can forfeit that protection by, among other things, traveling abroad. Note that this same rule extends to and impacts  J-1 and I status holders.

The rule is scheduled to go into effect on September 15, 2026, though congressional action could change that date.

 What about Student (F-1) status is changing?

The core change is that “D/S”, or “Duration of Status”, will be a thing of the past. Beginning on September 15th (or whenever the final rule takes effect), a student admitted to the United States in F-1 status will be given a status expiration date corresponding to the end date of the program being attended, not to exceed 4 years from the program start date.

In addition, F-1 status will be more restricted going forward in terms of the ability to transfer schools, change study objectives, seek additional degrees, and to complete degree programs that have stretched beyond their intended end date. There will also be added complication and confusion for those (mostly) F-1 status graduates who are in a period of Optional Practical Training (OPT).

What if a student needs to change schools or programs, or wants a second degree?

This will be more restricted than in the past, and will come with additional hurdles. To summarize:

• Students must complete their first academic year at the school that issued their first I-20*
• Students cannot change educational objectives during the first year*
• Graduate students may not transfer schools, during the first or subsequent years*
• Graduate students may never change educational objectives, during the first or subsequent years
• If a student completes a degree program after the rule takes effect, and then wants another degree, they can only move up degree programs, never same-level or down.

*Those with extenuating circumstances (e.g. school closure, degree program closure) may apply for an exception through the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Such exceptions are not available for graduate students wishing to change educational objectives.

How existing foreign national students are impacted

The above restrictions on transferring and changing educational objectives will go into effect with the rule, including for those already present in F-1 status. However, existing F-1 status students are authorized to remain in the United States until their I-20 program end date, capped at 4 years from the date the rule takes effect, pursuant to their “D/S” designation. That said, upon returning to the U.S. from international travel, such students would be given a fixed status expiration date corresponding to their program end date, or 4 years from their program start date, whichever is first.

In addition, if the program does not end within 4 years of the rule going into effect, students would need to apply for an extension, which, if approved, would come with a fixed status expiration date.

Foreign national students with OPT EADs

Students who already hold an OPT EAD are largely insulated from the new filing requirements, but not from the rule entirely; traveling abroad will still result in a fixed status expiration date upon return.

Shortened departure period

The new rule shortens the post-enrollment grace period from 60 days to 30 days, i.e. a student must leave the country no more than 30 days after their program has ended (or after they have de-enrolled). Students covered by the transition provisions retain a 60-day departure period.

The rule does not change the ability to enter the country up to 30 days prior to the beginning of a program.

Additional changes

This is a large-scale change to the F-1 program, with many implications for current and future students – well beyond what can be summarized here. If a student is in F-1 status, or is seeking to come to the United States to study, we recommend that they speak with an attorney to fully understand how this new rule will impact them.

TAGS: F-1, Student, USCIS