Duration of Status (D/S) is ending for new admissions.

• Beginning September 15, 2026, individuals entering the United States in F-1 status will no longer be admitted for “Duration of Status (D/S).” Instead, they will receive a Form I-94 with a specific Admit Until Date (AUD). In most cases, this date will correspond to the program end date listed on the Form I-20 (up to a maximum of four years), plus a 30-day grace period. 

New admissions will have a shorter grace period.

• Students who are admitted to the United States on or after September 15, 2026 will receive a 30-day grace period following the completion of their program instead of the current 60-day grace period.

Most current students and OPT/STEM OPT participants are covered by transition provisions.

• If you are currently in the United States in F-1 status before September 15, 2026, you will not immediately receive a new date-specific I-94 or need to take action.

Additional academic and immigration restrictions are included in the regulation.

• The final rule also introduces new restrictions related to certain academic program changes, school transfers, English language programs, and progression between degree levels. Specifically, the regulation restricts students from changing their academic program/major listed on their Form I-20 during their first year and restricts students from transferring to another U.S.-based institution within their first year of study.

At this time, no immediate action is required for most current Denison students or alumni on OPT/STEM OPT. 

As always:

• Continue maintaining your F-1 status

• Keep your immigration documents up to date

• Contact the Center for Global Programs before making immigration-related decisions 

The Center for Global Programs will continue to monitor federal guidance and will communicate additional information as implementation details become available. If future actions are required based on your individual immigration situation, we will provide specific instructions. 

As always, if you have questions about your individual circumstances, please contact the Center for Global Programs International Student Support team (globalprograms@denison.edu).

The transition provisions apply to current Denison students and alumni who are already inside the United States in F-1 status before September 15, 2026, including those currently participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT. 

For most students and alumni, the answer is no.

If you are already in the United States in valid F-1 status before the new rule becomes effective, you will not immediately receive a new Form I-94 with a specific Admit Until Date (AUD), nor will you need to file any paperwork simply because the regulation has changed.

Your current immigration record will continue under the transition provisions established by the new rule.

Yes–for now.

If your current Form I-94 lists your admission as “D/S” (Duration of Status), that designation generally remains valid while you remain in the United States under the transition provisions.

However, future immigration events–such as international travel or applying for certain immigration benefits–may move you from the previous D/S system to the new fixed-date admission system.

If you travel internationally and are admitted to the United States on or after September 15, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expected to issue you a new Form I-94 with a specific Admit Until Date (AUD) instead of the current “D/S” (Duration of Status) notation.

Your Admit Until Date (AUD) will generally correspond to the program end date listed on your Form I-20 (up to a maximum of four years), plus a 30-day grace period (rather than the previous 60-day grace period).

Under the updated regulation, your Form I-94 will become one of your most important immigration documents because it will indicate the date through which you have been admitted to the United States.

After every international trip, we strongly encourage you to:

• Download your new Form I-94 after returning to the United States

• Verify that your personal information is correct

• Confirm that you were admitted in F-1 status

• Review the Admit Until Date (AUD) listed on your record

If you notice any errors on your Form I-94, contact the Center for Global Programs as soon as possible so we can help you determine the appropriate next steps.

Students who are admitted to the United States on or after September 15, 2026 will generally receive a 30-day grace period following completion of their academic program instead of the previous 60-day grace period. 

If you are currently covered by the transition provisions and remain in the United States, you generally retain your current grace period. However, once you leave the United States and reenter under the update regulation, the 30-day grace period will apply to future admissions.

Not necessarily. At this time, there is no recommendation that students avoid international travel solely because of these regulatory changes. However, international travel will have greater immigration implications under the updated rule than it has in the past. 

Before making international travel plans, we encourage you to:

• Ensure your passport is valid

• Verify that your F-1 visa will be valid for reentry

• Confirm that your Form I-20 has a valid travel signature

• Contact the Center for Global Programs if you have questions about your individual immigration situation before traveling