The F-1 transition rules allow many students maintaining D/S status in the United States on September 15, 2026, to remain through their current Form I-20 or EAD end date, subject to a four-year cap. Travel, program changes or additional study time may require new action.
The Department of Homeland Security published its final fixed-stay rule on Friday, July 17, 2026. It is scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and includes a transition period for qualifying F-1 students already in the United States.
Who qualifies for F-1 transition protection
The transition protections for current students are part of the broader DHS policy replacing duration of status with fixed admission periods. Read how the new DHS F-1 fixed-stay rule changes admission and extension requirements .
An F-1 student generally qualifies if admitted for duration of status, or D/S, and properly maintaining status on September 15. Eligible students may remain through the later of the Form I-20 program end date valid that day or the expiration date on an employment authorization document, subject to a four-year limit.
Students continuing the same program do not need to replace a D/S Form I-94 immediately. The protected period cannot extend beyond September 15, 2030, followed by the applicable 60-day departure period.
When an extension of stay may be required
Students planning post-completion practical training should also review when Form I-539 may be required for OPT under the new F-1 rule.
A student needing more time to finish a program, begin another eligible program or pursue certain post-completion training must apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for an extension of stay.
An updated Form I-20 and a designated school official’s recommendation may support the request, but the school document alone does not extend the student’s authorized stay. Students should compare their Form I-20 end date with the transition limit before extending study or changing programs.
Travel can trigger a fixed admission date
Before leaving the United States, students should review how travel and reentry may affect F-1 status after September 15, 2026.
Travel after September 15 may change a current student’s admission record. A student who leaves the United States and returns during the transition period may receive a new Form I-94 with a fixed expiration date instead of D/S.
The admission period will generally follow the Form I-20 and cannot exceed four years. Students should review Form I-94 after every entry because its expiration date may determine when an extension request is needed.
What current students should check
Students should keep their passport, visa, Form I-20, Form I-94 and employment authorization records current. They should verify their SEVIS information and contact a school official before international travel, program extensions or changes in study plans.
Students should also confirm which departure timeline applies to them by reading who receives the new 30-day F-1 grace period and who may retain 60 days.
The transition provision prevents an immediate status cutoff for many students already in the country, but it creates a firm outer deadline. Universities and students will need to track Form I-20, Form I-94 and employment dates together instead of relying only on the D/S notation.
