Archive · 4 Sep 2026
US Students Face New Stay Rules Ahead of September 15
US universities are warning international students about a change to immigration rules.
The change begins on September 15.
Before then, students should check their school plans and immigration papers.
The old system let students stay while they kept valid student status and made normal progress.
The new system will give students a specific date by which they must leave or request more time.
New students will usually be admitted for the length of their programme or four years, whichever is shorter.
Students who need extra time should ask their university to extend their I-20 and may need to apply for an Extension of Stay.
Students already in the US can generally stay until the end date on their I-20 if they follow the rules.
Traveling out of the US and returning after September 15 may place them under the new date-based system.
US universities are urging international students to review academic plans and immigration documents before September 15.
The Duration of Status system will be replaced by a fixed Admit Until Date for affected students.
New entrants will generally receive admission for the I-20 programme length or four years, whichever is shorter, plus a 30-day grace period.
Students needing more time should extend their I-20 and file an Extension of Stay application early if necessary.
Students admitted under D/S who leave and re-enter the US on or after September 15 will receive a date-specific I-94.
- Who
- International students in the United States, particularly F-1 students, and their universities.
- What
- Universities are advising students about the replacement of Duration of Status with a fixed Admit Until Date.
- When
- The new rule takes effect on September 15.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- Students must understand new stay limits, programme end dates, travel consequences, and possible Extension of Stay requirements.
- Effective date
- September 15
- Old system
- Duration of Status, or D/S, allowed F-1 students to remain while maintaining lawful status and making normal academic progress.
- New admission limit
- For new entries, admission will generally last for the programme length on the I-20 or four years, whichever is shorter.
- New grace period
- New entries will generally receive a 30-day grace period.
- Existing students
- Students in the US on September 15 can generally remain until the I-20 end date if they maintain status.
- Existing grace period
- F-1 students retaining the transition provisions generally keep a 60-day grace period after programme completion or authorised practical training.
- Travel consequence
- Students admitted under D/S who leave and return on or after September 15 will receive a date-specific I-94.