New F-1 Visa Rules 2026: What International Students Need to Know About D/S, OPT, I-539 and Travel

Unless USCIS determines otherwise, beginning September 15, 2026, new DHS rules are scheduled to replace the traditional Duration of Status (D/S) system for many F-1 students with a fixed period of admission. Current F-1 students may qualify for important transition protections, but travel, OPT, program extensions, transfers, and future degree programs may be affected.

A major change is coming for international students in the United States.  On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a new final rule changing how long F-1 students may remain in the United States. The rule is currently scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026.

For years, most F-1 students have been admitted for “Duration of Status,” or D/S. This generally allowed students to remain in the United States while they maintained their F-1 status and continued their authorized studies or practical training.

Under the new system, F-1 students will generally receive a specific expiration date for their authorized stay.

But what happens if you are already in the United States in F-1 status when the new rule takes effect?

There are important transition rules you need to understand.

1. Already in the U.S. in F-1 Status? You May Keep D/S for Now

If you are physically present in the United States in valid F-1 status on September 15, 2026 and were admitted for D/S, you generally will not suddenly receive a new I-94 with an expiration date.

Instead, you may continue under the transition rules.

Your authorized stay will generally continue through the applicable end date on your Form I-20, plus the existing 60-day grace period, but it cannot extend beyond the transition limit. For most F-1 students, the latest transition date is November 14, 2030.

Students already on qualifying OPT or STEM OPT on September 15 have separate transition rules tied to their existing employment authorization.

This makes the dates on your immigration documents more important than ever.

2. Check the End Date on Your I-20

If you are an F-1 student currently in the United States, look at the Program End Date on your Form I-20.

That date may determine how long you can remain in the United States under the transition provisions.

If your I-20 has a program end date that does not accurately reflect the time you legitimately need to complete your program, speak with your school's Designated School Official (DSO) before September 15, 2026 about whether an extension is appropriate and available.

Do not wait until the last minute.

3. Traveling Outside the United States Could Change Your Situation

This is one of the most important parts of the new rule.

A student who remains in the United States may continue under the D/S transition provisions. But if you leave the United States and return on or after September 15, 2026, you will generally be admitted under the new system.

Instead of seeing D/S on your I-94, you should expect a specific “Admit Until Date.”

That date will generally be based on your academic program, subject to the maximum period permitted by the rule.

Students admitted under the new fixed-date system will also generally have only a 30-day grace period after completing their program, rather than the traditional 60-day F-1 grace period.

International travel therefore deserves much more careful planning after September 15.

4. OPT and STEM OPT Are NOT Going Away

There has been understandable concern about what the rule means for Optional Practical Training.

The good news is that OPT and STEM OPT have not been eliminated.

However, the process for maintaining lawful status while completing OPT is changing.

There is an important temporary exception for certain F-1 students already in the United States under D/S.

If you qualify for the transition provisions and file your post-completion OPT or STEM OPT Form I-765 on or before March 18, 2027, you generally will not need to file an extension of stay.

This exception generally requires the student to remain in the United States. If you leave and are readmitted under the new fixed-date system before filing for OPT or STEM OPT, the exception may no longer apply.

DHS has also reserved the ability to extend this temporary exception in six-month increments.

5. Future Students May Need Two Applications for OPT

After the transition exception expires, many F-1 students seeking OPT or STEM OPT may need to deal with two separate immigration issues:

1 -  permission to work; and  2 - permission to extend their stay in the United States when additional authorized stay is necessary.

In other words, having permission to work and having permission to remain in the United States may become two separate questions.

That is a significant change from the system students have been accustomed to.

6. Need More Time to Study? An Extension May Be Required

Under the new system, simply receiving an updated I-20 from your school may not always be enough to extend your lawful stay.

If you need to remain beyond your authorized admission period.  For example, because you need additional time to finish your degree or are moving into another qualifying academic program you may need to request an extension of stay.

Students may alternatively choose to leave the United States and seek readmission for the appropriate new period, but international travel can involve additional risks, visa requirements, and possible consular processing.

7. There Are Also New Restrictions on Changing Schools, Majors and Degree Levels

The final rule contains several significant academic restrictions.

Unless DHS delays implementation of these provisions:

• Undergraduate students generally cannot transfer schools, change majors, or change educational levels during their first academic year, except in qualifying extenuating circumstances.

• Graduate-level students face even stricter limitations on changing their educational objectives during their programs, with only limited exceptions.

• After completing a U.S. F-1 program under the new rules, a student generally cannot begin another F-1 program at the same or a lower educational level. The next program generally must be at a higher educational level.

For example, a student who completes a master's degree could face restrictions on later using F-1 status for another master's degree.

These provisions could have a major impact on students planning multiple U.S. degree programs.

DHS has reserved authority to delay or suspend certain educational-objective and transfer restrictions through September 14, 2028, so students should watch carefully for additional guidance.

8. English-Language and Public High School Students Face Additional Limits

The rule also creates specific restrictions for certain students.

Students enrolled in English-language training programs are generally limited to a maximum of 24 months.

F-1 students attending a public high school, including qualifying taxpayer-funded schools, remain subject to a maximum of 12 months of study.

Students in these programs should pay particular attention to their admission periods and program dates.

9. Why Your I-94 Will Become Extremely Important

Under the new system, international students will need to pay much closer attention to their Form I-94 after every entry into the United States.

For students admitted under the new rules, the I-94 will generally contain a specific date by which the student must either:

• leave the United States,

• obtain another lawful status or period of admission, or

• timely apply for an Extension of Stay when eligible.

Missing that date can have serious immigration consequences, including the potential accrual of unlawful presence.

Students should make it a habit to check their electronic I-94 after every international trip and immediately address any incorrect information.

What Should F-1 Students Do Now?

If you are currently in F-1 status, don't panic, but do start planning.

Review your I-20 and I-94. Know your program end date. If you are considering OPT or STEM OPT, understand how the March 18, 2027, transition deadline may affect you. And if you are considering international travel, changing schools, changing your major, or beginning another degree program, get advice before making the change.

Most importantly, don't assume that the rules that applied when you first became an F-1 student will continue to apply throughout your entire stay.

This is a major change to the F-1 system, and DHS may issue additional guidance before and after the rule takes effect.

At Arevalo Law, we are closely following these developments and helping international students understand how the new rules may affect their studies, travel, OPT, and future immigration plans.  The rules may be changing, but planning ahead can help you avoid an immigration problem before it happens.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Because implementation guidance may continue to develop, students should obtain advice based on their individual immigration history and circumstances.