Starting September 15, 2026, USCIS is enforcing mandatory new editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 with no grace period, rejecting older versions outright. But the stricter student visa procedures go beyond new paperwork: F-1 and J-1 students admitted on or after September 15 will lose "duration of status"—the previous rule allowing them to remain for their program's full length—and instead receive a fixed four-year admission period. These changes, part of a DHS final rule issued in July 2026, reshape admission timelines, grace periods, and how students extend or work.
Existing students in the U.S. under duration of status before September 15 are protected through program completion or November 14, 2030. New applicants and current students seeking extensions or work authorization must act now.
Official resources:
- Apply through Uscis’s official page — Use this page to review requirements and apply directly.
- Read the official notice from Yale — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- New Forms and the September 15 Deadline
- Duration of Status Ends for New Admits
- Grace Period Shortened to 30 Days
- Social Media Disclosure and Interview Requirements
- What Current F-1 Students in the U.S. Must Know
- Extension Requirements for Longer Programs
- Frequently Asked Questions
New Forms and the September 15 Deadline
USCIS will reject all old editions of Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) effective September 15, 2026. This deadline allows no grace period; an application submitted on the old form after that date will be returned without processing. Students and those on F-1 or J-1 status who need to extend their stay or apply for work authorization must use the 09/15/26 edition or later.
Download the forms from USCIS.gov or request them through your designated school official (DSO) or visa advisor. You can submit applications now using the new forms; USCIS will begin rejecting older versions at the September 15 cutoff.
Duration of Status Ends for New Admits
The most significant change is the elimination of "duration of status" (D/S) for students admitted on or after September 15, 2026. Previously, D/S allowed students to remain in the U.S. for as long as their program lasted, without a fixed end date. Under the new rule, F-1 and J-1 students now receive a fixed admission period of up to four years from their program start date.
This means your I-94 (the admission stamp in your passport) will show a specific date—not "D/S." If your program is longer than four years, you must file an extension before that date expires. If your program is shorter, your four-year clock starts on your first day, not on graduation.
Grace Period Shortened to 30 Days
Students admitted on or after September 15, 2026, have a 30-day grace period after program completion to depart, transfer schools, or change status—down from 60 days for previous admits. This is your window to leave the U.S., transition to another school, or file an extension for continued study. If you graduate and do not depart or file an extension within 30 days, you will be out of status. Out-of-status time is recorded in your immigration record and can affect future visa renewals, green card applications, and re-entry to the U.S. Plan your departure or next step well before your program ends.
Social Media Disclosure and Interview Requirements
Two other changes affect how you present yourself in the visa process. As of June 2025, F-1 and M-1 visa applicants must disclose all social media handles used in the past five years on Form DS-160 and allow State Department and USCIS officials to review them. You cannot restrict access to your accounts—the government must be able to view them.
Additionally, the State Department eliminated most nonimmigrant visa interview waivers effective September 2, 2025, meaning most F-1 and J-1 applicants renewing or applying for visas must now attend in-person consular interviews, with limited exceptions. Prepare for a longer visa process and schedule your appointment well in advance of your departure date.
What Current F-1 Students in the U.S. Must Know
If you are already in the U.S. on F-1 status under D/S before September 15, 2026, the transition is gentler. You may remain through your program completion date or November 14, 2030, whichever is sooner, without filing an extension. However, you must leave by that deadline or depart within the new 30-day grace period after program completion.
If your program extends past November 14, 2030, you will need to file Form I-539 (using the new 09/15/26 edition) to extend your stay before that date. Work with your DSO now to track your program completion date and plan ahead. Do not assume you can stay past November 2030; the deadline is firm.
Extension Requirements for Longer Programs
No F-1 or J-1 student can be admitted for longer than four years, regardless of program length. Doctoral students, master's students in extended programs, and others studying longer than four years must file Form I-539 to extend their status before the initial four-year period expires. Begin planning for an extension application six to nine months before your four-year clock expires.
Work with your DSO to gather required documentation: your admission letter, proof of enrollment, financial evidence, and a statement explaining why your program requires an extension. File using the new 09/15/26 form edition or risk out-of-status time and visa complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm already studying on F-1 under duration of status. Do I have to leave by September 15?
No. You may stay through your program completion date or November 14, 2030, whichever is sooner. The change applies only to students admitted on or after September 15, 2026.
My Ph.D. program is six years. How do I stay longer than four years?
File Form I-539 (using the 09/15/26 edition) to extend your status before your four-year period expires. Work with your DSO to gather documentation and submit at least six months early.
What happens if I stay past my four-year limit without filing an extension?
You will be out of status. Out-of-status time is recorded in your immigration file and affects future visa renewals, green card applications, and re-entry. File Form I-539 before your deadline.
Can USCIS deny my visa because of my social media posts?
Social media is reviewed as part of visa screening. Posts that violate U.S. law or show ineligibility could lead to denial, but disclosure alone does not guarantee denial. Review your accounts before listing them.