Important: These Rules Are Not Currently in Effect
The DHS final rule described on this page is not currently in effect. The rule was scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026, but a federal court issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking its implementation.
The existing F-1 and J-1 regulations, including the Duration of Status (D/S) framework, remain in effect. The information on this page explains the final rule as published and the changes that could apply if the rule is later permitted to take effect. See the latest Current Status update.
Your I-94 and Admit Until Date
Your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, documents your admission to the United States. Under the new regulations, the I-94 becomes especially important because most F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors entering or reentering the United States on or after September 15, 2026 will receive a specific Admit Until Date (AUD) rather than “D/S” for Duration of Status.
Your I-94 is issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you are admitted to the United States. You can retrieve your electronic I-94 through the CBP I-94 website.
Check your I-94 after every entry into the United States
After international travel, retrieve your new I-94 and verify:
- Your name and passport information are correct.
- Your Class of Admission is correct, such as F-1 or J-1.
- Your Admit Until Date is what you expect.
- If you expected a specific date but received D/S, or expected D/S but received a specific date, contact IPO.
- If anything appears incorrect, contact IPO promptly.
Do not wait until the end of your program to discover an I-94 problem.
SEVP has specifically instructed DSOs to educate students about the importance of knowing their AUD and monitoring approaching admission end dates.
Three dates that are not the same thing
Visa expiration date
Your visa is primarily an entry document. The expiration date on the visa generally determines how long the visa may be used to seek admission to the United States. It does not determine how long you may remain in the United States after you have been admitted.
I-20 or DS-2019 program end date
Your Form I-20 or DS-2019 identifies the authorized dates of your academic or exchange program.
Your program end date can be earlier than your I-94 AUD because the AUD generally incorporates the departure period following the program.
I-94 Admit Until Date
Your I-94 identifies the period for which you were admitted to the United States.
Beginning with admissions under the new system, the AUD will generally be based on the program end date listed on the I-20 or DS-2019, not to exceed four years, plus a 30-day departure period.
Important: the AUD does not extend your program or employment
A date on your I-94 that falls after your program end date does not authorize you to continue studying, working, or engaging in practical training beyond the period otherwise permitted by your immigration documents and applicable regulations.
For example, the 30-day period following completion is generally intended for departure from the United States or other action to maintain lawful status. It is not an additional 30 days of ordinary employment authorization.
What if my program is longer than four years?
The four-year rule is not a lifetime limit on F-1 or J-1 status.
A student may have an academic program that legitimately takes more than four years. However, an individual generally cannot receive more than a four-year period of admission at one time under the new system. A student who needs additional time may therefore need an Extension of Stay even when the I-20 itself already reflects a longer academic program.
Passport validity can matter
Your passport validity can also affect the period for which CBP admits you. Students and exchange visitors should maintain a valid passport and should consider renewing a passport that will expire significantly before the expected end of their program.