Fixed Period of Stay in the U.S. 
(Elimination of Duration of Status (D/S)) 

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule entitled, 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. Once the final rule takes effect*, it will eliminate "duration of status (D/S)” on the Form I-94 Admit Until Date (AUD) and replace it with a fixed period of stay that admits students and scholars on F-1 and J-1 visas up until an exact date. In most cases, the Admit Until Date (AUD) on an individual's Form I-94 will coincide with the program end date noted on the Form I-20 or DS-2019, or a maximum period of four years, whichever is shorter. Students and scholars needing more than four years to complete their program objectives will need to file a formal extension application through USCIS after the rule takes effect*. 

*The final rule goes into effect on September 15, 2026. 

• Fixed “Admit Until Date” on the I‑94 – The I‑94 will list a specific departure date, called the Admit Until Date (AUD), when you enter the U.S. In most cases, the AUD will be tied to the program end date on the Form I‑20 or DS‑2019, or a maximum period of four years, whichever is shorter. The AUD is inclusive of a 30-day departure period. 
• Maximum stay of four years – In most cases, the I-94 Admit Until Date (AUD) will not exceed four years, even if the program end date listed on the I-20 or DS-2019 is later. 
• Formal Extension of Stay (EOS) application with USCIS – Anyone needing additional time beyond their I-94 Admit Until Date (AUD) to complete their program, or to utilize post-completion employment benefits (e.g., OPT, STEM OPT,  Academic Training) will have to file a formal Extension of Stay (EOS) application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which will incur additional fees for the student or scholar, as set by USCIS. 
• Reduced grace period for F-1 students – the F-1 student grace period will be reduced from 60 to 30 days. The J-1 student grace period remains at 30 days. 
• Restrictions on program transfers –  
  • Undergraduate F-1 and J-1 students may not transfer to a different U.S. institution during their first year of study. 
  • Graduate F-1 and J-1 students may not transfer to a different U.S. institution during their program of study. 
  • J-1 Scholars  - There are no restrictions on transferring institutions. There are process changes that institutions will need to implement, but that should not affect a J-1 scholar’s ability transfer programs.  
• Restrictions on changes to field of study/major –  
  • Undergraduate F-1 and J-1 students may not change majors in their first year of study. 
  • Graduate F-1 or J-1 students may not change programs/field of study at any point during their program of study. 

• The final rule was published in the Federal Register on Friday, July 17, 2026. 
• The final rule goes into effect on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. 
• Until then, current D/S policies remain in effect.

• Familiarize yourself with your I-94  – You can access your Form I-94 on the official government website. Right now, the I‑94 for most F‑1 and J‑1 visa holders shows “D/S” (Duration of Status) in the Admit Until Date field. Effective September 15, 2026, the D/S policy will be eliminated, and any F-1 and J-1 visa holders entering the U.S. after this date will show a fixed date in this field. 
• Check your passport expiration date – Federal regulations require your passport to remain valid at least 6 months into the future when in the U.S. If your passport expires before the Admit Until Date on your I-94, your authorized stay in the U.S. is effectively limited to that expiration date, and you could fall out of status. Plan accordingly and renew if needed.
• Stay informed – Bookmark this webpage (ds.ucsd.edu) and check it frequently for updates. Also regularly check your UCSD email for ISEO and Extended Studies newsletters/messages. Division of Extended Studies students should seek guidance from DES directly at ipimmigration@ucsd.edu.

Student FAQs are coming soon, following UC San Diego's initial review of the final rule. Thank you for your patience. 

Official Government Resources:

F-1 Students: 

• Study in the States Final Rule Fact Sheet
• Study in the States Final Rule FAQs

J-1 Students: 

• To date, the U.S. government has not posted any J-1 student – specific guidance. 

What is “Duration of Status” (D/S)?  

• Currently, J-1 exchange visitors are admitted to the U.S. for “Duration of Status,” meaning they can remain in the U.S. as long as they are maintaining their J-1 status and their J-1 DS-2019 form remains valid. The D/S annotation can be found on the I-94 admissions record. 

What will change when Duration of Status (D/S) ends?  

• Effective September 15, 2026, new J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents will receive a fixed end date on their I-94 admissions record instead of D/S when they enter the U.S. on J-1 status.  
• In most cases, admission would be limited to the program end date listed on the DS-2019 form or up to a maximum of four years from the program start date.    
• Individuals needing additional time to complete their academic or exchange program may need to submit a formal Extension of Stay (EOS) request to USCIS.  

Has the rule gone into effect?  

• No, the rule has not gone into effect. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the final rule eliminating Duration of Status (D/S) on July 17, 2026, but it does not take effect until September 15, 2026. Current D/S policies remain in effect through September 14, 2026.     
• ISEO and UC San Diego campus partners are currently reviewing the published rule and identifying the changes that will affect the J-1 scholar population. Once the regulations are properly reviewed and processes are established, ISEO will update this page and send out communications to all those impacted by the change.  

I am currently a J-1 scholar and do not have plans to travel outside of the U.S. anytime soon. Will my I-94 be updated from D/S to a fixed period of stay once the rule goes into effect?  

• No, it will not be updated to a fixed period of stay. However, once you travel outside of the U.S. and return on your J-1 program, you will receive an Admit Until Date (AUD) that will list your fixed period of stay end date.  
• If you do not travel at all during your J-1 program, your J-1 end date will either be the end date listed on your DS-2019 form OR 4 years from the effective date of the rule, whichever is shorter.  

My passport is expiring soon. Will that affect my fixed period of stay?  

• Yes, if your passport is expiring soon, we recommend renewing it as soon as possible. Under the new regulations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will determine the length of your authorized stay when you are admitted to the U.S. If your passport expires before the end of your J-1 program, CBP may limit your period of admissions to match your passport expiration date instead of the full length of your J-1 program or the 4-year maximum, whichever is shorter. 

I am a Postdoctoral Scholar and will need more than 4 years in the U.S. to complete my program. Will I be able to extend my J-1 beyond the 4-year maximum?  

• Possibly. DHS has established an Extension of Stay (EOS) process that would allow J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents (if applicable) to apply for an extension beyond the 4-year maximum. More information to come as UC San Diego reviews the updated regulations in detail.  

Does this change affect my J-2 dependents?  

• Yes, J-2 dependents will also be admitted for a fixed period of stay once the rule goes into effect. More information will be provided soon. 

Is there anything I can do right now?  

• At this time, UC San Diego is reviewing the recently published regulations and evaluating their impact on J-1 Exchange Visitor processes. We will provide additional guidance and implementation details as they become available. 
• In the meantime, departments and scholars are encouraged to review upcoming J-1 program end dates and submit extension requests as early as possible. Requesting extensions well in advance may help minimize potential processing delays once the new regulations take effect. 

Should I travel internationally knowing there are upcoming changes to D/S policies?  

• International travel always carries some level of risk as ability to re-enter is determined by a consular officer (visa appointment) and CBP officer (port of entry) and they have significant discretion when determining eligibility for re-entry. However, during periods of regulatory or policy changes, there may be additional risks to consider, as the impact can vary depending on the implemented changes.  
• At this time, no changes to Duration of Status (D/S) have gone into effect, but individuals should remain informed when making international travel plans.  
• UC San Diego recommends:  
  • Review iTravel.ucsd.edu to ensure you have necessary documents to support a successful re-entry into the U.S  
  • Reviewing updates from iUpdates.ucsd.edu   
  • Staying informed about current immigration and travel-related developments   
  • Monitoring visa appointment availability and processing times, if you need a new visa  
  • Considering the possibility of delays related to visa issuance or administrative processing, see International Travel Considerations.   
• As every situation is different, individuals with concerns about travel or potential impacts to their status should consider consulting with an immigration attorney to discuss their specific circumstances and risk factors.