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F students will be admitted to the United States for a fixed period of time, up to the length of the program of study listed on their Form I-20, not to exceed four years, plus a 30-day period for arrival and an additional 30-day period for departure.

However, students enrolled in certain programs of study should understand the following limitations on their period of admission to the United States:

• Students engaged in English language training programs are restricted to a 24-month period of admission, plus an additional 30-day period to prepare for departure.
• Students enrolled in public high schools, which may also include a charter school or other similar school funded by U.S. taxpayers, are limited to an aggregate of no more than 12 months to complete their course of study, including any school breaks and annual vacation.
• Border commuter students will continue to be admitted with a fixed date of admission.

Students will continue to receive a 30-day period prior to the Program Start Date listed on their Form I-20 to arrive in the United States. However, students now have a 30-day period to prepare for departure or otherwise seek to obtain lawful status to remain in the United States following their Program End Date or post completion OPT or STEM OPT extension.

 

F students who need additional time to complete their program of study, begin a new program of study, or to engage in post-completion OPT or STEM OPT must take additional steps to remain lawfully present in the United States. Those students must request an EOS from their DSO, if necessary, and apply for an EOS with USCIS. When applying for an EOS with USCIS, students must complete and timely file the , “Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status,” pay the required fee and provide required biometrics. For additional information about the EOS process, refer to the page and USCIS .

F students with unexpired visas who choose to travel may also apply for admission with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at a port of entry and receive a new Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” with a new period of admission based on their updated Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record and supporting documentation, subject to eligibility and admissibility requirements

The final rule introduces major changes related to maintaining F nonimmigrant student status:

• Change of educational level: F students enrolled in programs below the graduate level cannot change educational levels during their first year of study, unless SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances. Students enrolled in programs at the graduate level or above cannot change educational levels during their program of study. 
  • Additionally, students are prohibited from the following after completion of a program of study:
    • Changing to a program of study at a lower educational level (e.g., moving from a master’s program to a bachelor’s program); or
    • Changing to a program of study at the same educational level (e.g., moving from a bachelor’s program to a bachelor’s program).
• Change of major: F students enrolled in programs below the graduate level cannot change their major during their first year of study, unless SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances. Additionally, students enrolled in programs at the graduate level or above cannot change their majors at any point during their program of study.
• Transfer: F students enrolled in programs below the graduate level cannot transfer to another school during the first year of a program of study and must complete their first year at the school that initially issued their Form I-20, unless SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances. Students enrolled in programs at the graduate level or above cannot transfer at any point during their program of study, unless SEVP authorizes an exception for extenuating circumstances.
• Departure period: F students now have 30 days to depart the United States after completion of their program of study or post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extension, a decrease from the previous 60-day period.
  For more information, refer to the .

When transitioning from duration of status to a fixed period of admission, F students in the United States should know the following:

• For current F students admitted for duration of status who are present in the United States on the final rule’s effective date: These students may remain in the United States without applying for an EOS up to the Program End Date on their Form I-20 or the end of their post-completion OPT or STEM OPT that is valid on the final rule’s effective date, not to exceed Nov. 14, 2030 (four years, plus a 60-day departure period).
  Students must apply for an EOS if they wish to remain in the United States beyond this date, including if additional time is needed to begin a new program of study or engage in post-completion OPT or STEM OPT. Alternatively, a student may travel and seek readmission with a new period of admission to begin a new program of study.
• For current F students who travel (i.e., depart the United States) after the final rule’s effective date: Upon returning to the United States, these students may be admitted with a new fixed period of admission, which is the Program End Date on their Form I-20, up to a maximum of four years (plus a 30-day departure period).
• For current F students admitted for duration of status who are present in the United States 60 days when the final rule takes effect on Sept. 15, 2026, and who timely filed for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT by March 18, 2027: These students do not need to file a separate application for an EOS.
• For F students who travel before filing for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT and are readmitted into the United States with a fixed period of admission: These students must file both an EOS application and an application for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT.
• For F students who are beneficiaries of a timely filed cap-subject H-1B petition and who are eligible for a “cap-gap” extension: These students do not need to apply for an EOS and may remain in the United States in F-1 status until the approval of the H-1B petition or April 1 of the fiscal year for which H1-B status is being requested, whichever comes first.

 

F students and school officials should understand the final rule and changes to the F student life cycle. For more information, review these resources:

containing the final rule.

about the elimination of duration of status final rule.

Additional resources to support the final rule implementation, will be made available the SEVIS Help Hub in the coming weeks. 

Guidance documents help the public understand how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) administers its statutory and regulatory authorities. In general, guidance documents lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law or as incorporated into a contract