Overview
- DHS published the final rule on July 17, 2026, and it will take effect 60 days after publication with an effective date of September 15, 2026.
- Under the rule F‑1 students and J‑1 exchange visitors will be admitted for their program end date with a maximum initial stay of four years and I‑visa stays for journalists are limited in most cases to 240 days with 90 days for some PRC passport holders.
- Anyone needing time beyond the fixed admit‑until date must file Form I‑539 with USCIS to request an extension, a process that includes fees, biometrics, background checks and federal adjudication rather than campus certification.
- The rule shortens the F‑1 post‑completion grace period from 60 days to 30 days and removes the open buffer that D/S provided, which means delayed USCIS decisions could trigger immediate accrual of unlawful presence and possible three‑ and ten‑year re‑entry bars.
- Universities and advocacy groups are urging students to return to the U.S. before September 15, raising questions about OPT/STEM OPT treatment, the capacity of USCIS to handle hundreds of thousands of extra filings, and imminent congressional review and likely legal challenges.