A major immigration rule is set to change the way international students study in the United States.
The new policy will directly affect thousands of Indian and other foreign students who plan to pursue higher education in the US.
The Trump administration has finalized a rule that ends the long-standing Duration of Status (D/S) system for F-1 student visas.
Under the new rule, most F-1 students will be allowed to stay in the US for only four years unless they receive an extension from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The rule will be published in the Federal Register and will come into effect 60 days after publication, which is expected to be around September 15, 2026.
What Has Changed in the F-1 Visa Rules?
Earlier, students on F-1 visas could remain in the US as long as they continued to meet their visa conditions and were enrolled in their academic program.
There was no fixed end date for their stay.
Under the new rule, students will receive a fixed admission period of four years on their I-94 record instead of the open-ended Duration of Status.
If a student’s course, Optional Practical Training (OPT), or any other eligible stay extends beyond those four years, they must apply for an extension through DHS.
The government will have the authority to approve or reject these requests.
Why Experts Are Advising Students Not to Travel
Immigration lawyer Emily Newman has advised students currently studying in the US on F-1 visas to avoid unnecessary international travel until they fully understand the new rules.
According to her, students who leave the US after the rule takes effect may re-enter under the new fixed-date I-94 system instead of the old Duration of Status system.
She also said the biggest risk for many students is not paperwork or fees, but traveling outside the country without understanding how the new rules apply to them.
Newman explained that students already maintaining valid F-1 status when the rule takes effect generally do not need to take immediate action.
In most cases, they will remain protected until the earliest of these events:
Their academic program ends.
Four years from the rule’s effective date (around September 2030).
They violate the conditions of their visa.
Important Things Students Should Keep in Mind
The new rules will require students to monitor their immigration status more carefully than before.
Simply extending a program through SEVIS may no longer be enough.
Students who need to stay beyond the date mentioned on their I-94 will likely have to file an Extension of Stay application with USCIS, possibly using Form I-539.
Graduate students may also face stricter rules regarding changing majors or transferring to another institution.
In many cases, students will only be able to move to a higher level of study, such as from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree.
Students applying for post-completion OPT may also need to complete both Form I-539 and Form I-765.
Those applying for OPT within six months of the new rule taking effect are expected to receive certain transitional relief, while the cap-gap provision will continue.
Experts also say students will now need to personally keep track of important immigration deadlines, including the expiry date on their I-94, instead of relying only on their university’s international office.
Could This Affect Job Opportunities?
The new rules may also influence how US employers hire international graduates.
Tripti Maheshwari, Co-Founder of Student Circus, believes employers may become more cautious if the path from an F-1 visa to OPT and eventually an H-1B work visa becomes more uncertain.
According to her, large companies may be able to handle complex immigration processes, but startups and smaller businesses could hesitate to hire international graduates if sponsorship becomes more complicated.
She also warned that increasing uncertainty could make other countries with clearer study-to-work pathways more attractive to international students, reducing the US’s ability to attract and retain global talent.
What This Means for Indian Students
The new F-1 visa rule marks one of the biggest immigration changes for international students in recent years.
While many undergraduate courses are completed within four years, students in longer programs or those planning to stay for OPT or further studies may now have to complete additional immigration formalities.
Students planning to study in the US should closely monitor updates, keep their visa documents in order, track their I-94 validity, and apply for any required extensions well before their permitted stay expires.
