A U.S. federal judge blocked the rule change while litigation is ongoing. You can read the statement from NAFSA here.
This means that all F1 students will continue to be admitted to the U.S. for Duration of Status as long as they continue to follow all F1 rules/regulations. We will continue to closely follow this case and communicate with our students if any changes occur in the future.
Please disregard the information below.
Below is a summary of the change, including the key points and answers to common questions.
Summary of the Rule Change
International students currently enter the U.S. under "Duration of Status" (D/S). This allowed them to remain as long as they made normal progress in their program and followed F-1 rules.
Starting September 15, 2026, students will instead be given a fixed end date, called the "Admit Until Date" (AUD). This date should match the program end date on the student's Form I-20, and it will be recorded on their I-94 record. The AUD cannot be longer than 4 years. If a student needs more time to finish their program, they must apply for authorization from the U.S. government.
Key Points:
- Extension of Stay: If a student needs more time after their AUD — to finish a program, transfer schools, or do OPT — they must file an online "Extension of Stay" application (Form I-539). This currently costs $420. Instead, a student may also choose to leave the U.S. and re-enter with an updated Form I-20.
- No Change of Level or Major in the First Year: F-1 students cannot change their education level or major during their first year of study.
- No Repeat or Lower-Level Programs: After finishing a program, F-1 students cannot start a new program at the same or a lower level.
- No Transfer in the First Year: F-1 students cannot transfer to another school during their first year of study.
- Shorter Grace Period: After finishing a program, students now have 30 days (down from 60) to leave the U.S., transfer, or apply for OPT
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: Does this mean F-1 students can only stay in the U.S. for 4 years total?
Answer: No. Four years is the longest period allowed in a single admission — it is not a lifetime limit. If a student needs to continue studying past 4 years, they must apply for an "Extension of Stay" (EOS).
Question: What is the Admit Until Date (AUD)?
Answer: The AUD is the longest a student may stay in the U.S. before they must apply for more time. It appears on the student's I-94 record.
Question: How is the AUD decided?
Answer: A student's AUD is set when they enter the United States, based on the program end date listed on their Form I-20.
Question: How long are Green River's I-20s valid for?
Answer: For most programs, Green River issues I-20s for 48 months.
Question: What happens after a student files an Extension of Stay application?
Answer: If the student files on time, they may keep studying full-time as an F-1 student while their application is being reviewed.
Question: If a student transfers to a university after Green River, does the new I-20 automatically extend the student's AUD?
Answer: No, AUDs are not extended automatically. If the university's I-20 shows a program end date later than the student's current AUD, the student must apply for an Extension of Stay before their AUD expires.
Question: Can a current student travel internationally?
Answer: Yes, this rule change does not affect international travel. If a student returns to the United States after September 15, 2026, they will receive an Admit Until Date (AUD) on their I-94, which should match the program end date on their Form I-20.
We look forward to partnering with you as we navigate these changes together. Please feel free to contact our office anytime with questions.