Indian students planning to study and work in the United States should take note of an important rule change.
The US government has announced new regulations for F-1 student visa holders, which will come into effect from September 15, 2026.
The changes mainly affect students who want to stay in the US after graduation under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
Under the new rules, some students will have to complete an additional immigration process to continue living and working in the country.
What Has Changed in the F-1 Student Visa Rules?
Until now, F-1 visas followed the Duration of Status (D/S) system.
Under this system, international students could remain in the US as long as they maintained their student status and continued their studies.
The new rules replace this system with a fixed visa duration.
For example, students may receive a visa valid for the length of their academic program, such as up to four years for a master’s degree or up to two years for a bachelor’s degree.
Students admitted after September 15, 2026, will be allowed to stay in the US for the duration mentioned on their Form I-20 or a maximum of four years, whichever is shorter.
After completing their course, students will receive a 30-day grace period, after which they must either leave the US or obtain permission to stay under another eligible status.
New Rules for Students Applying for OPT
The biggest change affects students who want to work in the US after graduation through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
If a student’s F-1 status expires while they are on OPT, they will now have to apply for:
Employment authorization through Form I-765.
An extension of stay through Form I-539.
Earlier, many students only needed employment authorization to begin working.
Under the new system, eligible students whose stay expires during OPT may also need to extend their legal stay in the US.
This change has created concern among many Indian students who are planning to build their careers in the United States after completing their studies.
DHS Provides Relief for Existing Students
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a transition provision to make the change easier for students who are already studying in the US.
Students who maintain valid F-1 status until September 15, 2026, and apply for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT on or before March 18, 2027, will not be required to file Form I-539 for that OPT period.
The same exemption also applies to eligible STEM OPT applicants who submit Form I-765 before their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) expires and no later than March 18, 2027.
Who Will Need to File Both Forms?
Students who leave the United States before applying for Post-Completion OPT or STEM OPT and later re-enter under the new fixed-term visa system will have to submit both Form I-765 and Form I-539.
In addition, students who already have a properly filed Form I-765 pending with USCIS as of September 15, 2026, generally will not need to submit another work authorization application or file Form I-539, unless USCIS specifically asks them to do so.
These new rules make it even more important for Indian students to understand the updated visa process and submit the required applications on time to avoid any interruption in their legal stay or employment in the United States.
