US Ends Duration of Status for F-1 and J-1 Visas Starting Sept 15

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a significant shift in how international students and exchange visitors are admitted to the United States. Effective September 15, 2026, the long-standing 'Duration of Status' (D/S) model, which allowed F-1 and J-1 visa holders to remain in the country as long as they maintained their student or exchange status, is being replaced by a fixed-date admission system. Under the new policy, individuals will be admitted for a specific period tied to their program end date, with a maximum cap of four years for most categories.

This policy change is part of a broader effort by the US government to enhance oversight of nonimmigrant visa holders and ensure compliance with program requirements. By moving to fixed admission dates, the government aims to reduce the administrative ambiguity associated with open-ended stays. While universities have expressed concerns regarding the operational impact, the policy is intended to standardize the duration of stay across various educational and exchange programs, aligning them more closely with the expected duration of the academic or professional activity.

This change primarily impacts international students holding F-1 visas and exchange visitors on J-1 visas currently in or planning to enter the United States. It also affects individuals on I-visa categories who are subject to the new fixed-admission requirements.

Makutet expects this transition to create significant administrative friction for both academic institutions and international students during the initial implementation phase. We anticipate that the shift toward fixed-date admissions will likely lead to an increase in extension requests, potentially straining USCIS processing capacity as the first cohort of students approaches their new expiration dates.