Summary of Changes

• All F and J visa holders will be admitted to the United States for a date-specific period, for a maximum of 4 years at a time, plus the allowable grace period. 
• What was once a one-step process (applying for an F/J extension with ISSS) will become a two-step process (applying for an F/J extension with ISSS, followed by an application to USCIS). This will add time, costs, and uncertainty to the extension application process. USCIS—not ISSS—will have the final decision authority on F/J extension eligibility. 
  • The cost for a single extension application to USCIS (Form I-539) is currently $470 for paper filing or $420 for online filing. 
  • USCIS will not allow expediting processing (also known as Premium Processing) for extension applications at this time. 
  • Most existing work authorizations for the F-1 or J-1 visa holder only (not dependents) will be extended for 240 days while an I-539 extension application is pending with USCIS, if the I-539 is received by USCIS before the I-20/DS-2019 program end date or Admit Until Date, whichever is earlier. This is different for F-1 visa holders applying for OPT or STEM OPT; see Changes Related to OPT below. 
  • In some cases, travel and re-entry with a valid visa and I-20/DS-2019 (rather than filing an I-539 application) may be an alternative method of extending F/J status. 
• The change to a fixed admission date will require a new understanding of immigration documents, in particular the I-94 arrival record. Understanding and keeping track of your Admit Until Date will be critical to avoid serious immigration status problems. 
• The Admit Until Date on the I-94 may change with any entry to the U.S. F and J visa holders must retrieve and review the I-94 after every entry to the U.S. 
  • NOTE: If you are traveling internationally and your passport expires earlier than your I-20/DS-2019 program end date, CBP may shorten the Admit Until Date on your I-94 to match the passport expiration date. This is a discretionary decision by CBP. 
• An F or J visa holder who stays beyond their Admit Until Date without taking necessary action may start accumulating unlawful presence, which can lead to long-term bars from the U.S.

The rule imposes new limitations on academic mobility for students, including restrictions on changing degree programs, transferring to other schools outside the UMN system, and completing more than one degree at the same level. 

An F-1 student who has completed a program at one educational level will be prohibited from pursuing another program at the same educational level (lateral matriculation) or lower educational level (reverse matriculation). This restriction already exists for J-1 students. 

See more about specific impacts for undergraduate and graduate students outlined below.

Spouses and unmarried minor children (under age 21) of F-1 and J-1 visa holders are eligible for dependent visa status as F-2 and J-2, respectively. 

• F-2 or J-2 dependents who arrive in the U.S. or are granted dependent status by USCIS on or after September 15, 2026, will also be given a fixed end date on their I-94 arrival record. 
• A dependent’s admit until date may be different from the F-1 or J-1 visa holder’s admit until date. Dependents must retrieve and review the I-94 after every entry to the U.S.

• All F-1 and J-1 visa holders who are in the United States on September 15, 2026, will be allowed to remain here for a maximum of four more years or until the end of their I-20 or DS-2019, whichever is shorter, before needing to request an extension from the U.S. government (if necessary). Further, their I-94 arrival record will not change unless they travel (see Impact of Travel during Transition below). 
  • After completion of their program, these F-1 visa holders will have a 60-day grace period available to them; J-1 visa holders have no change to their 30-day grace period. 
• All F-1/F-2 and J-1/J-2 visa holders present in the U.S. on September 15, 2026, may stay until the earlier of: 
  • September 15, 2030 (four years from the Final Rule effective date) plus the applicable grace period, 
  • The end date of their I-20 or DS-2019 plus the applicable grace period, or 
  • The expiration date of their OPT or STEM OPT EAD card plus the applicable grace period

• If an individual travels outside the U.S. and returns in F or J status after September 15, 2026: 
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may admit them with a fixed end date (plus a 30-day grace period) on their I-94 arrival record that will be the earlier of: 
    • The end date of their I-20 or DS-2019, 
    • The expiration date of their OPT or STEM OPT EAD card, or 
    • Four years from the date they returned to the U.S. 
  • They will receive a 30-day grace period that will be reflected in the fixed end date on their I-94 arrival record. 
  • Note that CBP may shorten the Admit Until Date on an I-94 to match the passport expiration date, if an individual’s passport expires earlier than the dates listed above. 
• See Changes Related to F-1 OPT below about the specific impact of travel on OPT and STEM OPT applications.

F-1 students will be restricted from transferring schools or changing majors in their first academic year in the U.S. This includes students who are undeclared or in a premajor status who want to declare a major, but does not include students who are moving from one UMN campus to another in the same major.

Academic Probation, suspension, or a pattern of failing classes will not be acceptable reasons for an F-1 international student to request an extension from USCIS. Additionally, students who are academically dismissed will not be allowed to transfer to another institution.

F-1 graduate students will be prohibited from changing programs at any point during a program of study. It is unclear if this will prevent, for example, completing a Master’s in one program and changing to a different program for a Doctorate.

F-1 graduate students will not be allowed to transfer to another U.S. school, whether to continue the same degree or to advance to a new degree program, unless an exception is authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP, an agency under the Department of Homeland Security) for “extenuating circumstances.” Even if the student will continue in the same field of study, no transfer would be allowed.

• Extenuating circumstances may include but are not limited to: school closure or a school’s prolonged inability to hold in-person classes due to a natural disaster or other cause.
• Graduate students may transfer within the UMN system campuses if they are continuing in the same program as these would be considered “campus reassignments” in the U.S. government system.
   

• Applying for F-1 OPT or STEM OPT will require that a Designated School Official issue a recommendation on the I-20, then the applicant will need to submit the Form I-539 to USCIS in addition to the Form I-765. (Currently, the Form I-539 is not required.) This could add significant time to the OPT approval process.
• Eligible individuals who have a timely filed STEM OPT extension with USCIS can continue to work for 180 days beyond their Admit Until Date while the I-539 and I-765 applications are pending with USCIS. “Timely filed” means that a complete application is received by USCIS before an individual’s OPT authorization expires.
• Premium processing (an expedited USCIS service) will not be available for the Form I-539 (extension application), although it is available for Form I-765 (work authorization application).  
   

• F visa holders must review the I-94 along with the I-20 and EAD to identify their employment authorization end date and their immigration status end date, which may be two separate dates:
  • Employment authorization end date = End date on the EAD or Admit Until Date on I-94, whichever is earlier. If a STEM OPT extension application is pending with USCIS, then an additional 180 days of work authorization is granted.
  • Immigration status end date = Admit Until Date on I-94.
• The I-94 Admit Until Date may change with any entry to the U.S. Individuals must retrieve and carefully review their I-94 after every entry to the U.S.

The application process for OPT and STEM OPT will require the Form I-539 (currently $470 for paper filing, $420 for online filing), in addition to the Form I-765 and its related fees (currently $520 for paper filing, $470 for online filing).

• F-1 students who have a complete OPT or STEM OPT application pending with USCIS on September 15, 2026, do not have to re-file their applications or add an Extension of Stay application.
  • If their OPT or STEM OPT application is approved, the F-1 student may stay in the U.S. until the expiration date of their employment authorization plus 60 days. Traveling internationally and re-entering the U.S. may reduce the grace period to 30 days.
• There will be a transition period until March 18, 2027, for F-1 students who: 1) have remained in the U.S. from September 15, 2026, 2) will complete their degrees by spring 2027, and 3) apply for post-graduation work permission. Students who meet these criteria and want to apply for OPT or STEM OPT will follow the current application process. In the case of OPT and the STEM OPT extension, no EOS application is necessary as long as USCIS receives the student’s complete application by March 18, 2027.
• After the transition period ends on March 18, 2027, students who want to apply for OPT or a STEM OPT extension will be required to add an extension application to their work permission application. 
• No such transition process exists for J-1 students who wish to participate in Academic Training (AT) after graduation. Students who wish to participate in post-completion AT will most likely need to file an EOS as part of their request process.

• Upon entering the U.S., J-1 Scholars will be admitted for the length of their DS-2019, up to a maximum of 4 years (current rules allow 5 years), plus a 30-day grace period. CBP will issue an electronic I-94 with an Admit Until Date that will reflect the J-1 status end date.
  • NOTE: If a passport is expiring before the DS-2019 program end date, CBP may shorten the Admit Until Date to match the passport expiration date. This is a discretionary decision by CBP. 
• To extend J-1 status, scholars must first request a program extension and new DS-2019 from ISSS, then file a Form I-539 for Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS. (Current rules require the program extension to be requested and approved by ISSS only.) 
• J-1 Scholars who extend their program (and DS-2019) annually based on funding renewals will need to request a new DS-2019 annually through ISSS, and additionally apply to USCIS for an extension of status.
• Premium processing (an expedited USCIS service) is not available for J-1 Extension of Stay at this time.
• J-1 Scholars transferring to another U.S. institution will have their current DS-2019 end date preserved. Program activities at the new institution will need to begin within the current period of admission, before the grace period.

• J-1 Scholars must look at their I-94, along with their DS-2019, every time they travel to identify their immigration status end date. Immigration status end date = Admit Until Date on I-94 or DS-2019 end date + 30 days, whichever is earlier.
• Simply having an extended DS-2019 from ISSS will no longer effectively extend your immigration status. 

• J-1 Scholars can continue to work for 240 days while an extension application (I-539) is pending with USCIS, if the I-539 is received by USCIS before the previous DS-2019 program end date or Admit Until Date (minus 30 days), whichever is earlier. 
• An I-539 receipt and your new DS-2019 will be required to reverify your I-9 for payroll. Online I-539 filing will provide an immediate receipt; paper filing will be mailed a receipt at a later date.
• Employment authorization end date = program end date on DS-2019 or Admit Until Date (minus 30 days) on I-94, whichever is earlier, unless an extension request is documented as pending with USCIS.
• If the I-539 extension application is received by USCIS during the grace period, then the employee will be eligible to remain in the U.S.—but not eligible to continue working—while the extension application is pending with USCIS. 
• The Admit Until Date on the I-94 will include the 30-day grace period; however, as it is currently, employment is not authorized during this grace period. It will be the scholar’s responsibility to ensure no work is done during the grace period.
• Employees in J-2 status with EAD cards will not be eligible to continue working beyond their EAD end date. Their appointment will need to be terminated and restarted upon USCIS approval of the extension and EAD.

• The application process for Extension of Stay will require the Form I-539 (currently $470 for paper filing, $420 for online filing). J-2 dependents can be included with no additional fee on paper filings only. Online filing requires each person to pay their own fee.
• The ISSS administrative fee for processing DS-2019 extensions (currently $600, charged to host department) will not change this year.

• J-1 Scholars who are in the U.S. on September 15, 2026, can remain in the U.S. without filing an extension until the earlier of: 
  • Their DS-2019 program end date + a 30-day grace period, or 
  • Four years from the final rule effective date (September 15, 2030)
• J-1/J-2 visa holders who travel outside the U.S. and return after September 15, 2026, will be admitted by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) with a fixed end date (plus a 30-day grace period) on their I-94 arrival record that will be the earlier of: 
  • The end date of their DS-2019, or
  • Four years from the date they returned to the U.S.
• J-1 Scholars will retain the 30-day grace period, which will be reflected in the fixed end date on their I-94 arrival record.
• The I-94 arrival record (from the CBP website) will not change if the J-1 Scholar does not travel internationally after September 15, 2026. The Admit Until Date on the I-94 may still say “D/S” rather than a specific date.

• A J-2 authorized period of stay cannot exceed the J-1 Scholar’s authorized period of stay. This means that J-2 dependents must track not only their own immigration document end dates, but also the J-1 I-94 Admit Until Date.
• J-2 visa holders who are employed with EAD cards are not eligible to continue working beyond their original status end date, which may lead to gaps in work authorization, even if extension applications are pending with USCIS. Employment will need to be terminated and restarted upon USCIS approval of the I-539 and I-765 extension applications.