Note: This summary is intended for UMass Lowell’s community and alumni. There are items that still require some level of clarification and guidance from governmental agencies. The International Student and Scholar Office and the Office of Human Resources will continue to monitor the implementation of these regulations, update their web pages and provide information as it becomes available.
- On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule introducing substantial changes to F and J nonimmigrant statuses. These changes include “fixed time periods” of admission to the U.S. for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors (and their dependents). They also impose restrictions on F-1 students' ability to change their current academic track or pursue new educational objectives. The full final rule can be viewed in the Federal Register. The effective date of the new rule is September 15, 2026.
Admission to the U.S. for a Fixed Admit Until Date
Effective September 15, 2026, when F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors (and their dependents) enter the United States, they will be issued a Form I-94 that identifies a fixed Admit Until Date (AUD). The fixed AUD should match the program end date on their Form I-20/OPT EAD/STEM OPT EAD or their Form DS-2019, not to exceed four years.
- The grace period following program completion for F-1 students (and their dependents) is shortened from 60 days to 30 days. The grace period for J-1 exchange visitors (and their dependents) will remain 30 days.
See Transition Provisions for people who are present in the United States on September 15, 2026.
Extensions of Stay Beyond Fixed Admit Until Dates (AUDs)
F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors (and their dependents) can request an extension of their immigration status beyond their fixed AUD by working with their designated school official (DSO) or alternate/responsible officer (A/RO) to extend their program end date through the issuance of an updated Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. Once they receive the extended Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, the F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors (and their dependents) must either:
- Timely travel abroad and return to regain admission through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and obtain a new Form I-94 with an extended AUD. Most F/J nonimmigrants will need a valid F/J visa in their passport to return to the U.S. Further, admission to the United States is at the discretion of CBP; or
- Timely file an EOS Application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend their immigration status. EOS Application approval is at the discretion of USCIS.
F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors with a timely-filed EOS Application pending at USCIS will retain employment authorization for 240 days beginning on the day after their admission period expires. For F-1 students, this only applies to on-campus employment, curricular practical training and employment authorization pursuant to severe economic hardship. F-1 students who file their EOS Application during their 30-day grace period do not benefit from the 240-day automatic extension provision.
See Transition Provisions for people who are present in the United States on September 15, 2026.
Examples of when extension of immigration status beyond fixed AUD may be necessary
- Request for post-graduation optional practical training (OPT/STEM OPT) benefits
- Delays in program completion due to academic or medical challenges
- Program is longer than four years (example: seven-year Ph.D. program)
- J-1 exchange visitors who receive DS-2019 in one-year increments due to funding restrictions
- Delays caused by transfers or changes in educational objectives (e.g. major or educational level)
Transition Provisions
Transition-ProvisionsF-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors (and their dependents) who are present in the United States on the effective date and do not travel abroad on or after September 15, 2026, may take advantage of the transition benefits. If they travel abroad and return to the United States on or after September 15, 2026, they may forfeit the below transition benefits. Upon re-entry, they will be subject to the new rule and issued a new Form I-94 that identifies a fixed AUD.
- F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors (and their dependents) who are present in the United States on September 15, 2026, and issued a Form I-94 that identifies an AUD of “D/S” do not have to immediately apply for a Form I-94 with a fixed AUD. However, they will be automatically assigned a fixed AUD as follows:
- F nonimmigrants new fixed AUD is the program end date listed on their Form I-20/OPT EAD/STEM OPT EAD or November 14, 2030, whichever is earlier. If necessary, an EOS Application will need to be filed on or before the new fixed AUD.
- J nonimmigrants new fixed AUD is the program end date listed on their Form DS-2019 or October 15, 2030, whichever is earlier. If necessary, an EOS Application will need to be filed on or before the new fixed AUD.
- F-1 students with timely filed OPT/STEM OPT Applications that are pending with USCIS on September 15, 2026, do not have to file EOS Applications or refile their OPT/STEM OPT Applications, unless otherwise requested by USCIS.
- F-1 students with timely filed OPT/STEM OPT Applications on or before March 18, 2027, do not have to file EOS Applications.
- J-1 exchange visitors with timely filed EOS Applications on or before March 18, 2027, may continue to engage in authorized employment and activities consistent with their program objective while the EOS Application is pending through the program end date on the Form DS-2019.
Restrictions on Transfers and Educational Objectives (major or educational level)
Below Graduate Level: F-1 students will not be allowed to transfer to another SEVP-certified school or change their educational objectives within their first academic year, unless an exception is authorized by SEVP due to extenuating circumstances.
At or Above Graduate Level: F-1 students will not be allowed to transfer to another SEVP-certified school at any point in their program of study, unless an exception is authorized by SEVP due to extenuating circumstances. F-1 students will not be allowed to change their educational objective at any point in their program of study.