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Final Rule: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure Quick Facts

Last updated: September 10, 2026

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a final rule in the Federal Register, “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.” Previously, F students were admitted to the United States for an unspecified period of time to pursue a full course of study at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified school or engage in authorized practical training following completion of their studies. This unspecified period of time was referred to as “duration of status.”

Under the new final rule, F students will be admitted to the United States for a fixed period of time instead of duration of status. This fixed period of time is based on the length of a student’s program of study listed on their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” not to exceed four years, plus a 30-day period for arrival and an additional 30-day period for departure. Students who need additional time to complete their current program of study, begin a new program of study, or to engage in post-completion optional practical training (OPT) or science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) OPT must apply for an extension of stay (EOS) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Alternatively, students may depart the United States and obtain a new period of admission from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon reentry. Students should talk to their designated school official (DSO) to understand their options and the process for extending their authorized period of admission to the United States.

F students and DSOs should be aware that terms and processes associated with the F student life cycle and maintaining F nonimmigrant student status have changed. Students and DSOs should familiarize themselves with the information on this page and the final rule.

Latest Updates

Be aware that content across Study in the States and ICE.gov/SEVP will be updated to reflect the final rule on and after the final rule's effective date. Until this time, refer to this page and the Final Rule: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure FAQ page for information.
Were you unable to join the live stakeholder webinar on Aug. 31? View a recording of the SEVP Webinar: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for F Students Final Rule.
Check out the new resources located at the bottom of the page to learn more about the final rule, including updated student life cycle graphics, a new fact sheet explaining the final rule and information to support future Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) releases.

What to Know: Major Changes

Fixed Period of Admission for F Students

F students will be admitted to the United States for a fixed period of time, up to the length of the program of study listed on their Form I-20, not to exceed four years, plus a 30-day period for arrival and an additional 30-day period for departure. However, students enrolled in certain programs of study should understand the following limitations on their period of admission to the United States:

Students engaged in English language training programs are restricted to a 24-month period of admission, plus an additional 30-day period to prepare for departure.
Students enrolled in public high schools, which may also include a charter school or other similar school funded by U.S. taxpayers, are limited to an aggregate of no more than 12 months to complete their course of study, including any school breaks and annual vacation.
Border commuter students will continue to be admitted with a fixed date of admission.

Students will continue to receive a 30-day period prior to the Program Start Date listed on their Form I-20 to arrive in the United States. However, students now have a 30-day period to prepare for departure or otherwise seek to obtain lawful status to remain in the United States following their Program End Date or post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extension.

Extension of Stay

F students who need additional time to complete their current program of study, begin a new program of study, or to engage in post-completion OPT or STEM OPT must take additional steps to remain lawfully present in the United States. Students who need additional time from what is listed on their Admit Until Date must apply for an EOS with USCIS or depart the United States and obtain a new period of admission from CBP upon reentry. Students should talk to their DSO to understand their options and the process for extending their authorized period of admission to the United States.

Students should work with their DSO before applying for an EOS with USCIS. Once students receive an updated Form I-20 from their DSO with the proper EOS recommendation, they must complete and timely file the Form I-539, “Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status,” pay the required fee and provide required biometrics. For additional information about the EOS process, refer to the Final Rule: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure Frequently Asked Question page and USCIS extension of stay resources.

F students with unexpired visas who choose to travel may also apply for admission with CBP at a port of entry and receive a new Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” with a new period of admission based on their updated SEVIS record and supporting documentation, subject to eligibility and admissibility requirements.

Maintaining Status for F Students

The final rule introduces major changes related to maintaining F nonimmigrant student status:

Change of educational level: F students enrolled in programs below the graduate level cannot change educational levels during their first year of a program of study, unless SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances. Students enrolled in programs at the graduate level or above cannot change educational levels at any point during their program of study. Additionally, students are prohibited from the following after completion of a program of study:
Enrolling in a program of study at a lower educational level (e.g., moving from a master’s program to a bachelor’s program), or
Enrolling in a program of study at the same educational level (e.g., moving from a bachelor’s program to another bachelor’s program).
Change of major: F students enrolled in programs below the graduate level cannot change their major during their first year of a program of study, unless SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances. Additionally, students enrolled in programs at the graduate level or above cannot change their majors at any point during their program of study.
Transfer: F students enrolled in programs below the graduate level cannot transfer to another school during their first year of a program of study and must complete their first year of a program of study at the school that initially issued their Form I-20, unless SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances. Students enrolled in programs at the graduate level or above cannot transfer at any point during their program of study, unless SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances.
Departure period: F students now have a 30-day period after completion of their program of study or post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extension, a decrease from the previous 60-day period.

For more information, refer to the final rule.

Next Steps

Transition Period

When transitioning from duration of status to a fixed period of admission, F students in the United States should know the following:

For current F students admitted under duration of status who are present in the United States on the final rule’s effective date: These students may remain in the United States without applying for an EOS up to the Program End Date on their Form I-20 or the end of their post-completion OPT or STEM OPT that is valid on the final rule’s effective date, not to exceed four years, plus a 60-day departure period. Students may apply for an EOS if they wish to remain in the United States beyond this date, including if additional time is needed to complete their program of study, begin a new program of study or engage in post-completion OPT or STEM OPT. Alternatively, students may depart the United States and obtain a new period of admission from CBP upon reentry.
For current F students who travel (i.e., depart the United States) after the final rule’s effective date: Upon returning to the United States, these students may be admitted with a new fixed period of admission by CBP.
For current F students admitted under duration of status and present in the United States on the final rule's effective date, and who timely file for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT by the date listed in the final rule: These students do not need to apply for an EOS.
For F students who travel before filing for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT and are readmitted into the United States with a fixed period of admission: These students must file an EOS application along with their application for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT.
For F students who are beneficiaries of a timely filed cap-subject H-1B petition and who are eligible for a “cap-gap” extension: These students do not need to apply for an EOS and may remain in the United States in F-1 status until the approval of the H-1B petition or April 1 of the fiscal year for which H-1B status is being requested, whichever comes first.