General FAQs

Glossary of Terms

AUD – Admit Until Date

D/S – Duration of Status

EOS – Extension of Stay

PED – Program End Date

SEVIS – Student and Exchange Visitor Information System

PDSO – Principal Designated School Official

DSO – Designated School Official

RO – Responsible Officer

ARO – Alternate Responsible Officer

DHS – Department of Homeland Security

I-94 – Arrival/Departure Record

USCIS – United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

CBP – United States Customs and Border Protection

What has changed?

Under the rule, F and J nonimmigrants will be admitted only until their program end date, not to exceed four years, plus a 30-day grace period. This is known as the “Admit Until Date” (AUD), which will be reflected on the Form I-94 of all individuals who enter or reenter the United States in F or J status on or after the final rule’s effective date. Any extension beyond the AUD will require filing a Form I-539 application of Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS in addition to receiving an extension recommendation from OGS or travel and re-entry to the U.S. and review by CBP. 

With the new rule, DHS reduced the previous F-1 grace period from 60 to 30 days, aligning it with J and M classifications. Students will have less time to prepare for departure, change status, or file extensions after completing their studies or training.

What do I do if I need more time than I am admitted for?

If you need time beyond your Admit Until Date (AUD) for whatever reason (e.g., an extension of program, school transfers, moving academic levels, passport validity period, use of post-completion practical training, or academic training), you will have to receive an extension recommendation from OGS and timely file a complete Form I-539 extension of stay application with USCIS before your AUD expires or . 

Because your authorized stay will be tied to a fixed I-94 date, filing for OPT (Form I-765) alone will not protect your legal stay if your I-94 expires while your OPT application is pending. Under the new rule, you must file a Form I-539 Extension of Stay (EOS) alongside your OPT application to bridge the gap and maintain valid F-1 status. The US government has created a temporary 6-month transition period that will allow students to avoid the additional Form I-539 during the initial months after the rule’s effective date. As of March 18, 2027, all students filing for post-completion or STEM OPT must file a Form I-765 (OPT application) with a Form I-539 (extension of stay) when applying for OPT. The new rule also says individuals may travel internationally and then seek re-admission to the US as a means of extending their I-94 end dates in order to participate in post-completion OPT and STEM OPT. 

How will this affect OPT applications?

For current F-1 students who are present in the U.S. 60 days when the final rule takes effect on Sept. 15, 2026, and who timely filed for post-completion OPT by March 18, 2027 (6 months from the effective date): 

  • These students DO NOT need to file a separate application for an Extension of Status (EOS).

For F-1 students who travel outside the U.S. before filing for post-completion OPT and are re-admitted to the U.S. with a fixed period of admission (AUD):

  • These students must file both an EOS application and an application for post-completion OPT (I-765).

What does the Form I-539 Extension of Stay application require?

For students and scholars choosing to extend their AUD by application to USCIS, applicants will be required to timely file the Form I-539 Extension of Stay application with USCIS before their AUD expiration date. Along with the completed form there is an application fee ($470 paper / $420 online), mandatory biometrics (fingerprinting), evidence of sufficient funding for the extension period, and an in-person interview may be required.

F-1/J-1s with dependents have the option to paper file and include their dependents (F-2/J-2) for free; or have each person (F1, J1, F2, J2) e-file separately, in which case each person would individually pay the e-file fee. 

How will this affect my dependents?

The authorized period of stay for J-2/F-2 dependents may not exceed the authorized period of stay of the principal J-1/F-1 student. When a dependent enters the United States, their I-94 end date will match the principal F-1 or J-1’s authorized stay and will no longer reflect Duration of Status (D/S).  

Can I stay until the end of my program as listed on my I-20?

Your Admit Until Date (AUD) may be different from the Program End Date on your Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” Typically:

  • For programs less than four years: the AUD is the Program End Date, plus 30 days for departure.
  • For programs longer than four years: the AUD is four years from the Program Start Date, plus 30 days for departure.
  • For students engaging in optional practical training: The AUD is the employment end date on the Employment Authorization Document, plus 30 days for departure. 

Important note: If your passport expiration date is before your program end date or the four year threshold, your AUD may be earlier.

Information about the policies and processes are being updated by government agencies and we will post updates as they become available.