A federal judge has temporarily blocked the new DHS rule that was supposed to end “Duration of Status” for F-1 and J-1 students on September 15, 2026. The existing D/S system remains in place for now. Here is what international students need to know today. F-1 Visa Rule Blocked September 15, 2026 Updated: September 15, 2026 UPDATE: The September 15 rule is NOT taking effect today The major change to the U.S. student visa system that was scheduled to begin on September 15, 202

The U.S. is changing how F-1 and J-1 students are admitted and how long they can remain in the country. The new rules take effect September 15, 2026. Here is what international students need to know about Duration of Status, I-94 expiration dates, extensions, OPT, travel, school changes and the new 30-day grace period. UPDATE — SEPTEMBER 15, 2026: The new rule has been temporarily blocked by a federal court. F-1 Visa Rules Change September 15, 2026: What Happens to Students A

For as long as most international students have been coming to the US, one phrase has meant safety: "Duration of Status." As long as you kept studying, kept your grades up, and followed the rules, your I-94 simply said D/S — no expiration date, no clock ticking in the background. That era ends in two weeks. On July 17, 2026, DHS published a final rule tearing out the D/S framework for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I nonimmigrant media representatives, and replacing

Three decades of student visa policy just ended, quietly, on a Friday in July The End of "Duration of Status": What DHS's New F-1 Rule Actually Means Before September 15, 2026 For more than 30 years, the deal for international students in the United States was simple: as long as you stayed enrolled and followed the rules, you didn't need to watch a clock. Your F-1 status lasted for the duration of your studies — that's literally what "Duration of Status," or D/S, means. No fi