Proposed Federal "Duration of Status" (D/S) Rule Changes

Information for International Students and Scholars

Issue at a Glance

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a federal rule change to end “Duration of Status” (D/S) for nonimmigrants granted entry to the U.S. in F or J status. Duration of status refers to the period of lawful stay granted upon entry to the United States and recorded on the Form I-94.

If implemented, the proposed rule would replace the current D/S framework with fixed admission periods tied to academic program length or a maximum admission period. The proposed changes may introduce new immigration procedures and administrative requirements for international students and scholars, including updated extension processes and new limitations related to academic program changes.

While the proposed rule may change certain immigration procedures, international students and scholars will continue to be able to study and complete their academic programs at Lehigh University. The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) is actively monitoring these developments and working closely with university leadership, peer institutions, and national professional organizations to assess the potential impact on Lehigh students and scholars.

At this time, the proposed rule remains under federal review and has not taken effect. Based on current federal guidance, any final rule would not be immediately implemented, but instead would take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Students and scholars already present in the United States who maintain their current status would generally remain under the existing D/S framework, while the new rule would apply to students and scholars entering the U.S. after the rule takes effect. OISS will continue to provide updates, FAQs, and additional guidance as more information becomes available.

Current Status of the Proposed Rule

The proposed rule change remains under federal review as of May 27, 2026.

The proposed rule was originally published in the Federal Register on August 28, 2025, and public comments were accepted through September 29, 2025. After review of public comments, DHS finalized its review of the proposed rule and submitted it to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final review and clearance prior to publication of a final rule.

Lehigh University leadership and OISS have been actively monitoring these developments and preparing guidance and resources to support the university’s international student and scholar community. Additional information and university guidance will be shared as it becomes available.

The proposed DHS rule change would:

Replace the current Form I-94 “admit until date” of “Duration of Status” (D/S) with a specific end date tied to academic program length or a maximum admission period of four years, whichever is shorter.
Require students and scholars to file a formal Extension of Stay (EOS) application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to extend lawful stay beyond their I-94 expiration date.
Shorten the current F-1 student grace period from 60 days to 30 days following program completion. The J-1 grace period would remain unchanged at 30 days.
Limit English language training study to 24 months in aggregate.
Restrict F-1 undergraduate students from changing majors or transferring schools during their first academic year.
Place new restrictions on F-1 graduate students changing majors or transferring schools during their academic program.
Limit the ability of F-1 students to pursue additional academic programs at the same or lower educational level.

If implemented as proposed, the rule would create new administrative and advising responsibilities for universities and international students and scholars. OISS is continuing to review the proposed changes and assess their potential impact on student enrollment, academic programs, research activities, and immigration advising processes at Lehigh University.

OISS will continue to provide updated guidance, FAQs, and additional support resources as more information becomes available.