A new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulation, effective September 15, 2026, will significantly change how F-1/J-1 international students are authorized to be in the United States.

The rule eliminates the 'Duration of Status' (D/S) notation on I-94 forms, replacing it with a fixed period of admission, generally capped at four years. This change will impact international students, scholars, and their dependents, requiring them to be admitted for a specific date rather than for the duration of their academic program.