The primary impact of the rule will be transitioning F and J visa holders from Duration of Status (D/S) to an Admit Until Date on the I-94. Travel and re-entry into the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026 will result in a specific date being entered on your I-94. F and J visa holders that need additional time to complete their degrees, apply for post-completion work authorization, or continue research will have to apply to USCIS for an extension of stay.

What does Admit Until Date (AUD) mean?

The Admit Until Date (AUD) represents the period that a non-immigrant visa holder is authorized to be in the United States in a specific status. F and J visa holders with a specific date on the I-94 may not remain in the U.S. beyond that date, and must depart or take other action to maintain status before the AUD.

Who determines the date of my AUD?

• F and J visa holders who enter the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026 will receive a specific date in the Admit Until Date field of the I-94 from U.S. Customs and Border Protection when inspected at a U.S. port of entry.  
• F and J visa holders who are approved for an extension of stay will have a new AUD determined by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The AUD will be on the tearaway I-94 attached to the I-797A Notice of Action.
• F and J visa holders who do not travel and do not yet need to apply for an extension from USCIS are given an AUD through the enactment of the new rule on September 15, 2026. You will not receive a new I-94 with your AUD, but will be expected to determine your date according to your I-20, DS-2019 or EAD expiration date. If you have questions about calculating your AUD, please contact your OIS advisor. 

How is my AUD determined?

All students and scholars in F and J status will be subject to the relevant changes in the new rule.

For F-1 students

F-1 students remaining in the U.S. without travel as of the effective date (September 15, 2026) will have an AUD determined as follows:

• For enrolled students, your AUD will be the I-20 end date, or four years from the rule effective date, whichever is shorter, plus a 60-day departure period (commonly referred to as the grace period).

• For F-1 students in an approved period of OPT or STEM OPT, the AUD will be the expiration date on the EAD, plus a 60-day grace period. 

F-1 students who do travel and enter the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026 (regardless of whether you are continuing in your program or coming to start a new program), the AUD will be determined as follows:

• For continuing enrolled F-1 students, your AUD will be the I-20 end date or four years from the date of re-entry,  whichever is shorter, plus a 30-day departure period (commonly referred to as the grace period).
• For new F-1 students entering the U.S. for the first time, your AUD will be the I-20 end date or four years from the I-20 start date, whichever is shorter, plus a 30-day departure period (commonly referred to as the grace period).
• For F-1 students in an approved period of OPT or STEM OPT, the AUD will be the expiration date on the EAD plus a 30-day grace period. 

For J-1 exchange visitors

J-1 exchange visitors remaining in the U.S. without travel as of the effective date (September 15, 2026) will have an AUD determined as follows:

• Your AUD will be the DS-2019 end date or four years from the rule effective date, whichever is shorter, plus a 30-day departure period (commonly referred to as the grace period).
• For J-1 students on academic training, we are awaiting further guidance from the Department of State and will update this page soon with more details.

J-1 exchange visitors who do travel and enter the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026 (regardless of whether you are continuing in your program or coming to start a new program), AUD will have an AUD determined as follows:

• Your AUD will be theDS-2019 end date or four years from your program start date, whichever is shorter, plus a 30-day departure period (commonly referred to as the grace period).
• For J-1 students on academic training: We are awaiting further guidance from the Department of State and will update this page soon with more details.