US Scraps Duration of Status for F-1 Visas, Sets 4-Year Cap From September 15

On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule changing the admission period in the F, J, and I classifications from duration of status to an admission for a fixed time period, with additional changes to admission and extension requirements. The rule takes effect September 15, 2026, and applies to current students, not just new arrivals.

What’s Changing

• What ends: The current system under which most F-1 and J-1 students and scholars could remain in the US as long as they maintained their immigration status is being replaced by a date-specific admission.
• F-1 cap: From September 15, 2026, F students will be admitted for a fixed period of time, up to the length of the program listed on their Form I-20, not to exceed four years, plus a 30-day arrival period and an additional period.
• J-1 cap: J-1 exchange visitors will generally be admitted for the length of the exchange program shown on Form DS-2019, not to exceed four years, plus a 30-day departure period.
• I-visa cap (foreign media): Most I-visa holders will be admitted for the period necessary to complete the media assignment, not to exceed 240 days.
• Shorter grace period: The departure grace period for F-1 students after graduation is being cut from 60 days to 30 days.
• Status: This rule is classified as a major rule and is subject to congressional review.

Sources: Federal Register, Study in the States (DHS)

The Extension Process & Costs

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• Extension of Stay (EOS) required beyond the cap: Students who need more time must timely file Form I-539, "Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status," pay the required fee, and provide biometrics before their authorized admission period expires.
• EOS fee: The current I-539 filing fee is $470 for a paper application or $420 filed online. Rs. 44,791 (paper) / Rs. 40,026 (online).

Exchange rate used: Rs. 95.30 per USD, house benchmark rate. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget.

• First-year transfer restriction: An F-1 undergraduate may not change university programs, degree major, or education level during the first academic year unless SEVP grants an authorized exception; graduate students face stricter limits on program changes.
• Transition relief: Current F students admitted under duration of status who are present in the US when the rule takes effect and who timely filed for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT by March 18, 2027, do not need to file a separate EOS application.

Sources: Study in the States (DHS), Northwestern OISS

Why It Matters for Indian Students

The US hosts roughly 330,000 Indian students, and Indian and Chinese students together account for more than 80 percent of OPT and STEM OPT participants, so this group absorbs an outsized share of the change. For example, an Indian student starting a five-year PhD in Fall 2026 will now be admitted for only four years and must file and win an EOS with USCIS, including biometrics, before that fourth year runs out, something that the duration of status never required.

Critics, including educators and businesses, warn the change will deter promising global talent and harm US higher education and innovation, arguing the rule's national-security and overstay-reduction justifications are weak. On the diplomatic side, India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi is in contact with Washington to minimize difficulties for genuine students and travelers.

The two groups facing the most immediate procedural change are students already on OPT or STEM OPT and those planning to switch majors, schools, or degree levels in their first year.

What to Do Now

• Current OPT/STEM OPT holders: Confirm your filing falls before the March 18, 2027 cutoff to qualify for transition relief and avoid a separate EOS filing.
• PhD, medical, and other multi-year program students: Map your EOS timing now. Given USCIS processing times, starting the EOS process at least six months before your admission period ends is a prudent buffer.
• First-year undergraduates considering a transfer or major change: Check with your Designated School Official whether your circumstance qualifies for a SEVP exception before the first-year restriction locks in.

For the complete F-1 visa and OPT process, see our US student visa guide.

If you want timelines specific to PhD programs, check out our guide on pursuing a PhD in the USA.

Have questions about how this decision affects your US study plans? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.