Is "Duration of Status" Ending for F-1 Students? What the 2026 Rule Means
A controversial rule to replace indefinite "D/S" with fixed visa expiration dates is near final approval. This article is for all current and future F-1 international students whose legal presence in the U.S. will be directly impacted.
TL;DR / The Bottom Line
The rule to eliminate "Duration of Status" (D/S) is currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If finalized, F-1 students will face fixed, hard expiration dates (2 or 4 years) on their stays, requiring costly and uncertain USCIS extensions to change majors, pursue higher degrees, or apply for OPT.
Table of Contents
What is Duration of Status (D/S)?
For decades, F-1 international students arriving in the U.S. have been admitted for "Duration of Status," noted as "D/S" on their I-94 arrival record.
This means a student is legally allowed to remain in the U.S. indefinitely, provided they maintain a valid I-20, make normal academic progress, and comply with SEVP rules. This flexibility allows students to easily transfer schools, pursue a Master's after a Bachelor's, or transition to OPT without needing to repeatedly ask USCIS for permission to stay.
The Proposed Fixed-Term Rule
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is attempting to eliminate D/S. Currently under final review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the new rule would impose strict, fixed admission periods.
- Standard Admission: Students would be admitted for the length of their program or a maximum of 4 years (whichever is shorter).
- Restricted Admission: Students from countries with high visa overstay rates, or countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, would be limited to a maximum admission of 2 years.
Under this system, if an undergraduate degree takes 5 years to complete, the student must apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) before their 4th year ends, paying a filing fee and undergoing biometrics, all with no guarantee of approval.
How This Impacts OPT and Extensions
The ripple effect on OPT would be massive. Currently, transitioning from study to OPT simply requires an I-765 EAD application.
If D/S ends, applying for OPT would also require filing an Extension of Stay to legally remain in the U.S. while the EAD is processed. Given that USCIS processing times often exceed 4 to 6 months, students could accrue unlawful presence if their fixed status expires while waiting.
Action Item: Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months into the future at all times, as admission periods can never exceed passport validity.
Free Visa Validity Checker Tool
Download our simple excel tool to track your I-20 end date, Passport expiration, and Visa stamp validity in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Duration of Status (D/S) mean?
Currently, F-1 students are admitted for 'D/S', meaning they can stay in the U.S. indefinitely as long as they maintain student status, progress academically, or transition to OPT. There is no hard expiration date on their I-94.
Is the end of Duration of Status officially law?
Not yet. As of June 2026, the final rule is undergoing review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If cleared, it will be published in the Federal Register and go into effect shortly after.
Will this affect students currently in the US?
Yes. The proposed rule suggests that students currently in the U.S. on D/S would have their status automatically converted to a fixed expiration date (typically the program end date on their current I-20).
Conclusion & Next Steps
The elimination of Duration of Status represents the most drastic change to the F-1 visa program in over 20 years. It will replace academic flexibility with bureaucratic friction and high fees.
Next Step: Keep a close eye on updates from your university's International Student Services (ISSS) office. If you are planning to transition to OPT or a higher degree program in late 2026 or 2027, prepare to submit your applications far earlier than historically required to account for Extension of Stay processing.