This FAQ is a general resource for the Seattle campus academic advisors, faculty, staff and campus partners. Please direct all international students to ISS for immigration and case-specific advising.
General
What is changing for F-1 or J-1 students?
Duration of Status Eliminated
The Department of Homeland Security is eliminating the longstanding Duration of Status (D/S) policy, under which F-1 and J-1 students have been able to remain in the U.S. for the length of their academic programs as long as they maintained their immigration status.
Beginning September 15, 2026, students will be admitted to the U.S. for a specific period of study instead of for duration of status (D/S). A student’s I-94 Admit Until Date (AUD) will be their I-20/DS-2019 program end date, not to exceed 4 years (whichever is earlier). The AUD will also include a 30-day grace period. The AUD on a student’s I-94 is the maximum time they will be allowed to stay in the U.S. continuously.
Students who need to stay beyond their AUD must:
- travel and reenter or
- apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS
New Restrictions on Academic Changes
The regulations also impose new restrictions limiting changes to a student’s educational objectives including major, degree level, and institution.
When do these changes go into effect?
The final rule is scheduled to take effect September 15, 2026. Until then, current D/S rules and ISS processes remain the same. The effective date could change if the government delays implementation, Congress disapproves the rule, or a court intervenes. ISS will continue to provide updates to campus partners and post official changes or delays on the D/S Hub.
Will there be a transition period?
The new regulations include a transition provision that allows F-1 and J-1 students physically present in the U.S. before September 15, 2026, to remain under Duration of Status. They will retain D/S through the end of their academic programs as long as they continue maintaining status and their immigration document program end date does not exceed four years. However, the transition period cannot extend beyond November 14, 2030, for F students or October 15, 2030, for J students.
Additionally, any of the following actions will result in the issuance of a new I-94 with a fixed AUD:
- Requesting an extension to their current academic program including for a Change of Level;
- traveling and reentering on or after September 15, 2026;
- Applying for OPT or STEM OPT after March 18, 2027; and
- Applying for Reinstatement
Note: All F and J students will be subject to the new restrictions that limit changes to educational objectives (major or academic program), degree level, and institution, regardless of D/S status.
Does this affect international students in any other visa category or status?
No, the new regulation and restrictions apply only to F-1 and J-1 students. If someone in another immigration status applies to change to F-1 or J-1 status, they will become subject to the regulations.
What should I tell students who have questions?
Academic advisors, faculty, staff, and other campus partners should avoid giving immigration advice. These rules are complex and may affect students differently. To avoid potential immigration-status consequences, direct students to the following ISS resources:
- ISS D/S Hub with updated information and FAQs specifically for students
- Contact ISS form
- ISS advising for time-sensitive question or unique circumstances
How can academic advisors, faculty, staff, and campus partners know whether a student has D/S or a fixed Admit Until Date (AUD)?
Immigration-specific data related to a student’s visa status is not available to departments, administrators, staff, or campus partners. Only staff who are Designated School Officials (DSOs) authorized by the government to issue, monitor, and report through the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) have access to immigration data. Students also have access to their own immigration information. We encourage campus partners to discuss with students directly about their I-20 or DS-2019 end date, I-94 Admit Until Date, and whether their I-94 shows D/S. Students may share this information if they choose.
Can ISS and the University refuse to comply with the new regulations?
UW and its F-1 and J-1 students must comply with federal immigration regulations. Noncompliance could jeopardize a student’s immigration status and could place the University’s authorization to enroll international students at risk. ISS staff and Designated School Officials must perform their responsibilities in accordance with applicable federal requirements.
Academics
Does this mean a student must complete their degree in four years? What about PhD programs that require more than four years?
No. The new regulations do not require students to complete their degrees within four years, nor do they require institutions to change the length of their degree programs.
However, an F-1 or J-1 student will not be permitted to stay continuously in the U.S. more than four years at a time. Students will be admitted for the length of the program listed on their Form I-20 or DS-2019, not to exceed four years, plus a 30-day grace period. Their Form I-94 will show a fixed Admit Until Date (AUD) reflecting that period. Students who need time beyond their AUD will be required to file an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS or travel and reenter the U.S.
Example:
An incoming PhD student has a Form I-20 with a program start date of September 21, 2026, and a program end date of June 13, 2031. If the student enters the U.S. for the first time on September 21, 2026, the four-year maximum admission period will be calculated from this date. The student’s Form I-94 should have an Admit Until Date of October 21, 2030: four years from the program start date, plus the 30-day grace period.
The student is not required to complete the PhD by that date. Before the authorized period expires, the student may apply to USCIS for an Extension of Stay or depart the U.S. and seek readmission with a valid Form I-20.
If the student travels internationally after completing the first academic year and reenters the U.S. on September 2, 2027, less than four years will remain before the June 13, 2031 program end date. The student’s new Form I-94 should therefore have an Admit Until Date of July 13, 2031 (the Form I-20 program end date plus the 30-day grace period).
How will the restrictions on changing majors, educational objectives, or academic program affect our students?
For undergraduate students, the new regulations place restrictions on changing majors, changing academic programs, or transferring to a different school during their first year of studies. That means first-year students may need to delay officially declaring or changing a major until the end of the first academic year. If a student is admitted directly to a major and decides they want to study something else, they will need to wait to officially make that change until the end of the academic year. Many first year students are admitted as pre-majors for general studies and it is unlikely this will be impacted since most pre-majors do not declare a major until the end of their first year.
For graduate students, the regulations impose even stricter limits. For graduate-level F-1 students, the new rule prohibits changes in educational objectives (major or level) during the program and prohibits transfers to other institutions.
Changing programs typically results in a change to the student’s CIP code, which must be reported in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). We believe the new restrictions will be applied based on CIP codes. For example, if a student moves from pre-doctoral to doctoral status in the same major and the CIP code remains the same, the change should still be allowed.
Additional clarification has been requested on whether the full CIP code changes or just the general area of study part of the CIP code.
What happens under the new rules if a student needs more time to complete all of their degree requirements?
The initial process for requesting an I-20 or DS-2019 program extension will remain the same. The student will submit an extension request through MyISSS for review and approval by their program and ultimately ISS.
Under the new regulations, all F-1 and J-1 students must also apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) by filing Form I-539 with USCIS before the program end date on their original I-20 or DS-2019. Students must submit their extended document along with additional evidence of support. It is not yet known whether additional supporting documents, such as a transcript or letter, will be required or recommended. Students who file on time will automatically receive a 240-day extension to continue studying and working on campus while their USCIS application is pending.
Alternatively, F-1 and J-1 students may depart the U.S. and seek readmission with their extended I-20 or DS-2019 for review by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Upon readmission, students should receive an updated Form I-94 with a fixed Admit Until Date based on the extended program end date. Readmission is never guaranteed, and students should be prepared to provide the same documentation of support for the additional time that they would submit to USCIS.
Both options have benefits, limitations, and risks, so students should consult ISS before deciding whether to file an EOS with USCIS or depart and seek readmission with an extended I-20 or DS-2019.
Can students still change their educational level or be promoted to a higher level degree program?
Yes. Students may still advance to a higher degree level.
Once a student has confirmed enrollment in the new degree program, they must still request a Change of Level/Program I-20 from ISS. Under the new regulations, the student must also extend their stay, either by filing an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS or by departing the U.S. and seeking readmission with the updated I-20.
Timing will be critical for students eligible for an internal departmental promotion, bypass, or “blue button” promotion. Before ISS can issue a Change of Level I-20, the new degree program must be added to the student’s record in the Student Database. Students who plan to file an EOS application with USCIS must act before the end date of their current program to receive the automatic 240-day extension for study and on-campus employment.
Will an international student enrolled in a PhD program still be allowed to exit the program with a Master’s degree?
We believe students who leave a PhD program early will still be eligible to earn a master’s degree. However, the new rule does not allow students to change to the same or a lower educational level at any time during their studies in the U.S. Therefore, an F-1 or J-1 student who exits a PhD program with a master’s degree will not be eligible for immigration benefits based on that degree, such as Optional Practical Training or Academic Training.
ISS will no longer be able to change the student’s immigration record from the doctoral level to the master’s level. Although the student may earn the master’s degree, their I-20 will be shortened to the new program end date and will not reflect the master’s degree level. Because the student cannot request additional benefits based on that degree, they will likely need to depart the U.S. within their grace period.
Travel
Do new students or continuing students need to travel to the U.S. before September 15?
Students should consider their own situation based on their degree program, timing, travel plans, and expected graduation date.
Students who enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status on or after the effective date should be admitted until the program end date listed on the I-20 or DS-2019, or 4 years, whichever is shorter, plus a 30-day grace period. For many F-1 students, one major difference will be the reduction of the post-completion grace period from 60 days to 30 days. J-1 students already have a 30-day post-program grace period.
Nothing else has changed about traveling internationally, and it does not create any greater risk entering the U.S. on or after Sept. 15. General international travel guidelines and caution remains the same. If students have concerns about their travel plans or travel with a pending USCIS application, they should consult ISS for further guidance.
If a student is currently in the U.S. with Duration of Status (D/S) and they travel over winter break, what happens?
If a student admitted for D/S travels internationally and reenters the U.S. on or after the rule’s effective date, CBP will issue a new I-94 with a fixed Admit Until Date instead of D/S.
The fixed date will be based on the program end date listed on the student’s I-20 or DS-2019, or 4 years from the date of admission, whichever is shorter, plus a 30-day grace period. This may shorten the student’s post-completion grace period or create a future need to file an Extension of Stay with USCIS if additional time is needed.
Example:
A continuing F-1 PhD student is in the U.S. on September 15, 2026 with D/S on their I-94. Their I-20 Program End Date is June 13, 2031. If the student remains in the U.S. and does not travel internationally, they may continue under the transition rules for students admitted for D/S. If the same student travels internationally over winter break and reenters the U.S. on January 5, 2027, CBP will issue a new I-94 with a fixed Admit Until Date instead of D/S.
If a student is admitted to the U.S. with a fixed Admit Until Date and they travel over winter break, what happens?
If a student already has a fixed Admit Until Date and later travels internationally, CBP will issue a new I-94 when the student reenters the U.S.
The new Admit Until Date will be based on the program end date listed on the student’s I-20 or DS-2019, or 4 years from the new date of admission, whichever is shorter, plus a 30-day grace period. Depending on the student’s current program end date and timing of travel, the new I-94 date may be the same as, earlier than, or later than the student’s previous Admit Until Date.
Example:
A new PhD student has an I-20 Program Start Date of 09/21/2026 and a Program End Date of 6/13/2031. They travel to the U.S. on September 19, 2026. The new rules are in effect, so their I-94 fixed Admit Until Date (AUD) should be 10/18/2030 (four years maximum plus a 30-day grace period).
The same student then travels internationally over summer 2027 and returns to the U.S. on September 2, 2027. Because less than 4 years remain before the I-20 program end date, the new I-94 fixed Admit Until Date should be July 13, 2031, which is the I-20 end date plus a 30-day grace period. In this type of situation, travel and reentry results in a later AUD tied to the end of the student’s PhD program.
Should we advise F-1 and J-1 students not to travel internationally?
Students should consider their own situation based on their degree program, timing, travel plans, and expected graduation date.
The new rule does not prohibit F-1 or J-1 students from traveling internationally. ISS does not generally advise F-1 or J-1 students that they cannot or should not travel internationally. International travel has always carried some risk because readmission to the U.S. is never guaranteed and is determined by CBP at the port of entry. However, if a student reenters the U.S. on or after the rule’s effective date, they may receive a fixed I-94 Admit Until Date, and their travel could affect future deadlines, grace periods, Extension of Stay requirements, or OPT/STEM OPT planning.
Encourage F and J students to consult ISS if they have concerns about their travel plans or timing of their travel
Employment
Will students be allowed to continue on-campus employment, CPT, or Academic Training if they have a pending Extension of Stay application?
Yes, in many cases. F-1 and J-1 students may continue authorized employment or training while a timely filed Extension of Stay (EOS) application is pending with USCIS.
Timing matters. To receive the automatic continuation of employment authorization, the student must file the EOS application before the I-20 or DS-2019 Program End Date. If the student files after the Program End Date but during the 30-day grace period, they may continue their studies while the EOS is pending, but they may not work.
If USCIS denies a student’s EOS application or if their 240-day automatic extension period ends before USCIS makes a decision, or if a student is otherwise no longer eligible for on-campus employment, they must stop all employment immediately.
Can F-1 students still apply for OPT or STEM OPT under the new regulations?
Yes. F-1 students may still apply for post-completion OPT and STEM OPT if they are otherwise eligible. Students must still receive from ISS the appropriate OPT or STEM OPT recommendation on their Form I-20 and timely file Form I-765 with USCIS.
However, students who are admitted to the U.S. with a fixed I-94 Admit Until Date, or students who file for OPT/STEM OPT after March 18, 2027, may need to file both Form I-765 for employment authorization and Form I-539 for an Extension of Stay with USCIS.