Duration of Status Rule Change: Important Update August 2026
International students entering the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026 will be admitted until a fixed date rather than for Duration of Status. This ‘Admit Until Date’ (AUD) will be limited to a maximum of four years or the program end date (whichever is shorter) with a 30-day grace period.
If a student needs additional time to complete their academic program or apply for OPT, they will need to file an Extension of Stay (EOS) application. For more information on the Duration of Status Rule Change and how it may affect your students, please visit DePaul’s Immigration Update FAQ page.
The new regulations also include academic considerations. Moving forward, your work helping students select their best-fit university and program will become even more important in light of the following changes:
Graduate Students
- Graduate students will generally not be able to change their program of study after they arrive in the U.S.
- Graduate students will generally no longer be able to transfer from one institution to another at the same level.
Undergraduate Students
- Undergraduate students may change their major only after completing their first academic year of study.
- Undergraduate students may consider transferring institutions only after completing their first academic year of study.
These are just a few important highlights. For more details, please visit our Immigration Update FAQs or review the regulation text.