Washington, D.C., USA – The US Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule replacing duration-of-status admission for F-1 academic students and J-1 exchange visitors with fixed admission periods from September 15, 2026, drawing opposition from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. For aviation colleges and flight schools enrolling F-1 students, the rule adds extension-of-stay and educational-transfer requirements that may affect international student scheduling and program administration.

From September 15, F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants will generally be admitted for the length of the program recorded on their Form I-20 or DS-2019, subject to a maximum period of four years. The rule also applies fixed admission periods to I-category foreign media representatives.
F-1 students requiring additional time to complete a program will need to request an extension of stay from US Citizenship and Immigration Services. DHS is updating Form I-539 to support extension applications from F, J and I nonimmigrants.
The rule restricts F-1 students below graduate level from transferring schools or changing their educational objective during the first academic year unless the Student and Exchange Visitor Program approves an exception for extenuating circumstances.
Graduate-level F-1 students will not be permitted to change their educational objective during a program. Transfers will generally be prohibited unless SEVP approves an exception for extenuating circumstances.
The rule directly affects F-1 academic students but does not introduce the same change for M-1 vocational students, who are already admitted for fixed periods. Flight-training organisations serving both categories will therefore face different requirements depending on each student’s visa classification.
DHS said the change will provide additional oversight and allow immigration authorities to assess whether students and exchange visitors continue to maintain their status at defined intervals.
NAFSA said more than 20,000 comments were submitted during the rulemaking process and argued that extension applications, transfer restrictions and fixed end dates will increase uncertainty and administrative work for students and educational institutions.
The final rule creates binding requirements from its effective date. Schools enrolling F-1 students will need to review admissions, advising, Form I-20 and extension procedures before September 15.

Fanta Aw, PhD, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators released the following statement:

“DHS’ decision to end Duration of Status is a misguided and unnecessary policy shift that injects uncertainty, bureaucracy, and fear into a system that has long worked effectively. It is a solution in search of a problem. International students and exchange visitors are already the most monitored nonimmigrant populations in the United States. SEVIS and the partnership between institutions and the federal government already provide a rigorous and highly effective system of oversight, compliance, and accountability.

This rule introduces unnecessary government intrusion into academic decision-making. Requiring students and scholars to seek approval to extend their academic program, change majors, or pursue the next level of study places life-changing educational decisions in the hands of an already overburdened immigration system—not educators, and not institutions.

At a time when global competition for talent is intensifying, this policy sends exactly the wrong message. It tells the world’s brightest students and scholars that the United States is becoming less welcoming, less predictable, and less committed. This is not just bad for higher education, it is bad for American innovation, economic growth, workforce development, and global leadership.

Despite more than 20,000 public comments—including NAFSA’s—that raised serious concerns, DHS has chosen to move forward with a rule that will create more barriers for global talent without making our nation safer or stronger. Americans should be clear-eyed about what is at stake: international students contribute immeasurably to our classrooms, our communities, our research enterprise, and our economy. Policies that destabilize their ability to study, innovate, and contribute here do not advance the United States' national interest, they weaken them.

NAFSA remains committed to working with policymakers to advance practical, effective solutions that uphold national security while preserving the openness, dynamism, and global competitiveness that have long defined American higher education. At the same time, we will vigorously explore every available avenue to challenge this harmful and shortsighted rule.”

About NAFSA: Association of International Educators
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. NAFSA promotes policies that ensure the continued growth and impact of global learning, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding through study abroad, international student services, and campus internationalization. With a network of over 10,000 professionals in the field at more than 3,500 institutions in 150+ countries, NAFSA is committed to fostering a more globally connected and peaceful world.

Source: Federal Register & NAFSA

US Department of Homeland Security Ends Duration of Status for F-1 Students from September 15, 2026

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