Duration of Status (D/S) Rule Change Frequently Asked Questions

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule that changes how long many F-1/J-1 students may remain in the U.S.

Instead of being admitted for “Duration of Status (D/S),” many students will now receive a “fixed period of stay” with a specific expiration date listed on their Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record.

The rule has been published but is not yet in effect. The ISSC is updating its processes and guidance before the rule effective date of BLANK.

Duration of Status (D/S) meant you were generally allowed to remain in the U.S. as long as you:

• Maintained your F-1/J-1 status.
• Continued making normal progress toward your degree.
• Followed all F-1/J-1 immigration regulations.

If you were admitted with D/S, your Form I-94 typically listed "D/S" instead of a specific date.

Under the new rule, many F-1/J-1 students will receive a Form I-94 with a specific expiration date rather than D/S.

This means your authorized stay in the U.S. will end on the date listed on your I-94 unless you receive additional authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This means your I-94 will become one of the most important immigration documents to review.

The answer depends on your individual situation.

1. Active degree seeking students currently in the U.S. may transition from D/S to a fixed period of stay based on their I-20/DS 2019 Program End Date, not to exceed 4 years.
2. Students entering the U.S. after the rule becomes effective are generally expected to receive a fixed end date based on their I-20/DS 2019 Program End Date, not to exceed 4 years.
3. Students on approved Post-OPT or STEM OPT may transition from D/S to a fixed period of stay based on their current EAD card expiration date.

The ISSC will provide additional guidance as DHS releases implementation instructions.

After entering the U.S., review your Form I-94.

If your I-94 says:

• D/S – You were admitted under Duration of Status.
• A specific date – You were admitted until that date.

You can retrieve your most recent electronic Form I-94 from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website after entering the United States.

Not necessarily.

Your Form I-20/DS 2019 shows your expected academic program dates, any work authorization dates and your eligibility for F-1/J-1 benefits.

Your Form I-94 determines how long you are authorized to remain in the U.S. Under the new rule, students with a fixed end date will need to ensure they obtain an Extension of Stay beyond the I-94 expiration date if they will continue their studies and/or pursue work authorizations.

If you have a fixed period of stay and need additional time, you may need to apply for an Extension of Stay with USCIS before your authorized period of stay expires.

The ISSC will provide guidance if this applies to you after a thorough review of the final rule.

Yes.

I-20/DS 2019 program extensions through the ISSC will still be required if you need additional time to complete your academic program. Please review the Program End Date on your I-20/DS 2019 now.

However, a Form I-20/DS 2019 extension does not automatically extend your authorized stay in the U.S. if you have a fixed end date on your I-94.

The ISSC is reviewing the final rule and will provide updated guidance regarding:

• Pre-Completion OPT
• Post-Completion OPT
• STEM OPT Extension
• Cap-Gap Extension
• Academic Training

Additional information will be published before the rule becomes effective.

Travel procedures will change. Once the rule becomes effective, if you re-enter the U.S. your I-94 will show a fixed end date.

Before making international travel plans, we will encourage you to review the ISSC website for the latest guidance and ensure all immigration documents are valid.

At this time, you should:

• Continue maintaining your F-1/J-1 status.
• Follow all current immigration regulations.
• Monitor your ASU email for updates.
• Review this FAQ periodically as new information becomes available.

For most students, no immediate action is required while the ISSC updates its guidance.

If the rule affects your situation, the ISSC will provide instructions before any action is needed.

If you have questions about how the rule may affect your individual situation, contact the ISSC.

However, please know that because implementation guidance is still being finalized, some questions may not yet have definitive answers. We appreciate your patience as we update our resources and procedures.

As DHS and USCIS publish implementation guidance, we hope to expand this FAQ resource with more specific guidance related to:

• Transition rules for current students with D/S.
• How Extension of Stay applications will work.
• Timeline examples for common student scenarios.
• Travel examples before and after the effective date.
• Frequently asked questions for Post-OPT and STEM OPT students.
• Questions specific to change of level, transfer students, and dependents (F-2/J-2).