A federal district court in Massachusetts temporarily blocked implementation of the new length-of-stay model for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors on September 14, 2026. The regulation was expected to take effect on September 15, 2026; the court's ruling delays implementation of the new rules until proceedings on the merits of the case are complete.
The planned change would replace the long-standing Duration of Status system with a specific admission end date for people in F and J status. Under the current system, F-1 students can complete their programs without a fixed end date on their visas or Form I-94 as long as they continue their programs and comply with the requirements of their status.
Under the new model, the length of stay would be more directly linked to the student's academic program and the designated admission period. An overall four-year limit was generally planned for F-1 students, but this period would not automatically and unconditionally give every student the right to stay for four years. Students enrolled in shorter programs could receive shorter admission periods, while academic progress and immigration-status requirements would remain decisive.
The regulation's transition provisions could also have covered some students who were in the United States on its effective date and maintaining D/S status. In addition to F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors and, in some cases, people covered by post-completion employment authorization could have been affected by the new system. Some students needing to extend their stay could have been required to file a separate application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The Department of Homeland Security defended the fixed-period model on the grounds that it would allow closer monitoring of students' academic progress and compliance with status requirements. The department said the existing D/S system could allow stays extending beyond the duration of an educational program and the misuse of status rules.
Universities and international education organizations warned that the change could create administrative and financial uncertainty for students, post-completion employment authorization, school transfers and extension applications.
The court's September 14 ruling did not permanently invalidate the regulation, and the final outcome of the case has not yet been determined. Universities' international student offices said that current students' D/S status remains in effect for now and that students should follow up-to-date guidance from university offices and official immigration agencies regarding their individual circumstances.
