Duration of Status Ends Tomorrow, September 15th!
As we covered in the post back on August 31st, For as long as most current students have been in the U.S., "Duration of Status" has meant your F-1 or J-1 status was tied to your program, not a fixed date on a calendar. That ends tomorrow.
Starting September 15, 2026, DHS is replacing D/S with a hard admission date. There's still an unresolved court fight that could change things at the last minute, but that is yet to be seen.
Before tomorrow, be sure to read the prior post about this, and then:
If you're currently traveling or planning travel soon: talk to your DSO or an immigration attorney before you go; re-entering after the effective date means you'll be admitted to a fixed date rather than D/S, which changes how your timeline works.
Check your Form I-20 or DS-2019 program end date now: Make sure you know what your fixed admission period will actually be under the new rule.
If you'll need more time than your fixed period allows (a delayed graduation, a program extension), plan to file Form I-539 (using the new required edition) before your authorized period runs out, not after.
Remember that this is not settled: Litigation is still unresolved. Check for updates frequently, and remember that this post may already be out of date by the time you're reading it, given how close the hearing was to the effective date.
F-2/J-2 dependents: the rule doesn't clearly spell out how dependents are treated. Please contact your DSO or an attorney for a case-specific answer.
This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, please consult a licensed immigration attorney.
