Last updated: September 8, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule that changes how F-1 students and F-2 dependents are admitted and maintain lawful status in the United States.<\/p>\n These changes include establishing fixed periods of admission, requiring extension procedures in certain situations, changing procedures related to Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT, and placing restrictions on certain changes to academic programs, transfers, and enrollment in new degree programs.<\/p>\n The information below provides a general overview of these changes. EWU Global Student Services will continue to monitor guidance from DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This page will be updated as additional implementation guidance becomes available.<\/p>\n Students with questions about how these changes may affect their individual circumstances should contact EWU Global Student Services<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","blocks":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","module_background_color":"off-white","copy":" Under the final rule, F-1 students and F-2 dependents arriving in the United States on or after September 15, 2026<\/strong>, will generally be admitted for a fixed period of time rather than for Duration of Status (D\/S). Your period of admission will generally be based on your program end date, applicable grace period, and the maximum period permitted under the regulations.<\/p>\n Your specific period of admission will be reflected in the Admit Until Date (AUD) on your Form I-94 Arrival\/Departure Record. After entering the United States, always check your I-94 and carefully monitor your authorized period of stay.<\/p>\n The AUD may become an important deadline if you need to:<\/p>\n Do not assume that the program end date on your Form I-20 automatically determines how long you are permitted to remain in the United States.<\/strong> Your I-94 and individual circumstances determine your authorized period of stay.<\/span><\/p>\n Failing to take appropriate action before the applicable admission period expires may result in a violation of status and potentially serious immigration consequences.<\/p>\n","no_wrapper":false,"component_options_toggle":true,"component_options":{"disable_component":false,"nickname":"Fixed Periods of Legal Stay","identifier":"fixedperiods","navigable":true}},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy-with-image","layout":"small-image","show_left":false,"module_background_color":"white","title":"When Might I Need to Extend My Stay?","copy":" Under the fixed-period admission system, some students may need to take additional action to remain lawfully in the United States, even when they otherwise continue to meet the Situations may include:<\/p>\n The specific requirements will depend on your individual circumstances, including when you entered the United States, whether you were previously admitted for D\/S, the information on your I-94, and whether you leave and re-enter the United States.<\/p>\n Contact EWU Global Student Services<\/a> before taking action.<\/b><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":412,"id":412,"title":"_DSC2821-copy","filename":"DSC2821-copy-scaled.jpg","filesize":851500,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/study-abroad\/fulbright\/_dsc2821-copy\/","alt":"Pub interior of steps and people walking","author":"462","description":"","caption":"","name":"_dsc2821-copy","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":591,"date":"2024-03-07 21:27:48","modified":"2025-02-21 17:38:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1707,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-2048x1365.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":200,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":267,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2024\/03\/DSC2821-copy-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":400}},"youtube_video_id":"","video_orientation":"horizontal","image_alt":"","secondary_image":"Geo-texture-blk.svg","background_vertical_alignment":"center","background_horizontal_alignment":"center","background_crop":"chevron","component_options_toggle":true,"component_options":{"disable_component":false,"nickname":"Extensions of Stay","identifier":"extensions","navigable":true}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","module_background_color":"off-white","copy":" F-2 dependents generally cannot remain in the United States beyond the period authorized for the F-1 student.<\/p>\n If an F-1 student must apply for an extension of stay, the student may also need to include eligible F-2 dependents in the application.<\/p>\n","no_wrapper":false,"component_options_toggle":true,"component_options":{"disable_component":false,"nickname":"F-2 Dependents","identifier":"f2","navigable":true}},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion-with-notes","module_background_color":"white","accordion_position":"bottom","title":"Examples of Situations That May Require Additional Action ","notes":" The following examples are intended as general guidance and do not constitute legal advice. Students should contact EWU Global Student Services<\/a> before taking action because individual circumstances may differ.<\/p>\n","include_spacing":true,"expanded":false,"sections":[{"label":"Scenario 1: Student needs additional time to complete the current program ","copy":" Contact EWU Global Student Services<\/a> before filing<\/strong> because the requirements may differ depending on when the student entered the United States and whether the student has remained in the United States since the rule became effective.<\/p>\n"},{"label":"Scenario 3: Student is completing a program and wants to begin a new degree program ","copy":" The final rule also establishes restrictions on beginning a new program at the same or a lower educational level after completing a U.S. program.<\/p>\n In general, an F-1 student who completes a program after September 15, 2026<\/strong>, may not be permitted to begin a new program at the same or a lower degree level in F-1 status. Students may generally continue to pursue a program at a higher educational level.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>An F-1 student who completes a master’s degree after September 15, 2026, may not be permitted to begin another master’s degree at EWU or another institution in F-1 status.<\/p>\nFixed Periods of Legal Stay<\/h2>\n
Admit Until Date (AUD) and I-94 Arrival Record<\/h3>\n
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\nrequirements of F-1 status.<\/p>\n\n
How Are F-2 Dependents Affected?<\/h2>\n
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Restrictions on Beginning New Degree Programs<\/h2>\n