The duration of status rule is on hold: What F-1 and J-1 students should know right now
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The date many headlines marked as the end of duration of status has passed, and the rule has not taken effect. Here is what it says, why it is on hold, and how to prepare.
If you have been following US student visa news, you may have seen 15 September 2026 marked as the day "duration of status" ended. That date has now passed, and the picture is more complicated than the headlines suggested. This guide explains what the rule says, why it has not taken effect, and what sensible preparation looks like while the courts decide.
What did the Department of Homeland Security change?
On 17 July 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule in the Federal Register titled "Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media." It set an effective date of 15 September 2026.
For decades, F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors have been admitted for "duration of status", meaning for as long as they keep pursuing their programme and follow the rules, with no fixed end date. According to the rule's summary, DHS would replace that with:
A fixed period of admission: Authorised stay up to the programme length, not to exceed four years.
Extension of stay applications: Students who need more time would apply to US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A shorter departure period for F-1 students: The time to prepare to leave after studies or practical training would fall from 60 to 30 days.
Tighter limits on moving between programmes: Graduate students would generally be unable to change educational objective or transfer schools without an exception from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
The rule also described transition arrangements for students already admitted for duration of status. If it takes effect, Ohio State University's international office summarises that current students would not need a new fixed-date record but would need to apply for an extension of stay to remain beyond their programme end date, up to a long-stop date of 14 November 2030 for F-1 students.
Why has the rule not taken effect?
Just before the effective date, a federal court stepped in. According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, which is among the plaintiffs, US District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of the District of Massachusetts granted nationwide preliminary relief on 14 September 2026. The order blocks the rule from taking effect and prevents DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement from implementing it while the case continues. As a result, the long-standing duration of status framework remains in place nationwide.
On 30 September 2026, NAFSA reports, the federal government appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The appeal does not put the rule into effect or change the district court's order. As of recent checks, the rule remains blocked while litigation continues. This is preliminary relief rather than a final ruling, so the position could change. Universities such as Ohio State have posted the same message: the regulations for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors remain unchanged for now.
Because this situation is moving, treat any date in this article as a snapshot from 26 October 2026 and check the sources linked here before you act.
What does this mean for F-1 students today?
Short answers to the questions students ask most:
What does the end of duration of status mean for me? At the moment, it does not apply. The rule is blocked, so F-1 students are still admitted for duration of status.
How long can an F-1 student stay from 15 September 2026? Under current rules, for as long as you maintain status. If the rule is eventually allowed to take effect, the fixed-period rules described above would apply, subject to its transition provisions.
Does the rule apply to students already in the US? If it takes effect, yes, through transition arrangements. Ohio State's summary says students admitted for duration of status before the effective date would be treated differently from new admits, and that travelling abroad and returning after the effective date would mean readmission with a fixed end date.
Is the grace period 30 or 60 days? While the rule is blocked, the existing 60-day period for F-1 students continues to apply, according to current university guidance.
Practical steps while the courts decide
You cannot control the litigation, but you can make your own position easier to manage.
Talk to your designated school official: Your international student office knows your record and can explain how developments apply to you before you make travel or programme decisions.
Keep your documents together: Save your Form I-20, I-94 record, passport, visa and any practical training paperwork in one place.
Check your programme end date: A fixed admission period would be tied to the end date on your I-20, so confirm it is accurate.
Be careful with travel: If the rule takes effect, re-entry after travel could mean a fixed end date. Ask your school before booking trips around key dates.
Avoid abrupt changes: Hold off on switching programmes or schools without advice, because the rule would restrict some of those moves if it takes effect.
Follow official updates: Check the Student and Exchange Visitor Program's Study in the States site and your school's announcements.
Practical training adds another layer. A separate DHS proposal on optional practical training fees was published on 8 October 2026 and is not in effect, and the rules for practical training are changing in other ways too. Our companion guide on CPT and OPT covers those points.
If you are deciding on a US master's
Uncertainty is uncomfortable when you are about to commit tens of thousands of dollars. It helps to separate what you can plan from what you cannot. You can plan your funding, your timeline for the I-20 and your budget. You cannot predict how every court decision will land, so build some flexibility into your plans.
Prodigy Finance has one loan product, with no collateral and no co-signer. It is assessed on your future earning potential, based on your school, programme, and academic and professional background.* Loans go up to USD 220,000* and up to 100% of your cost of attendance, subject to the limits your school sets, and funds are paid directly to your school. There is a USD 500 processing fee*. While you study you make a mandatory USD 100 monthly payment, and full repayments start after graduation. The representative APR is 13.48%* variable and includes interest and mandatory fees, including that monthly payment.
US schools often ask for proof of funding when issuing an I-20, and with a Prodigy Finance loan you receive a loan letter confirming your loan details, which your school may ask for. Eligibility by nationality, school and destination varies by intake, so check directly for a definite answer. Read more on the United States study destination page, try the visa prep tool to organise your paperwork, or compare options on the student loans page.
Ask your question
Rules that change this quickly can leave anyone feeling unsure, and asking questions is the right response. If you want to talk through your funding while you wait for clarity on the visa side, chat to us on WhatsApp*.
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