The U.S. government has proposed changes that would eliminate the Duration of Status (D/S) rule for F and J students. Nothing has changed at this time and F-1 and J-1 students should continue following the current rules for maintaining status.
What does “Duration of Status” mean?
Duration of Status, often abbreviated as D/S, means that you are admitted to the U.S. for the duration of your authorized program and related activities as long as you maintain your F-1 or J-1 immigration status. D/S is noted on your I-94 arrival record under admit until date instead of a specific, fixed end date.
Your I-94 and Admit Until Date
Each time you enter the U.S., Customs and Border Protection creates and updates an electronic Form I-94, also known as your Arrival/Departure Record. Your I-94 includes important information such as your class of admission, the date you entered the U.S., and your Admit Until Date. For most F-1 and J-1 students, the Admit Until Date will show D/S instead of a fixed calendar end date. This allows for flexibility because your lawful stay in the U.S. is connected to maintaining your student status.
What does D/S mean for students?
If your I-94 shows D/S, you may remain in the U.S. as long as you continue to maintain your F-1 or J-1 status.
This means you must continue to:
- Maintain required enrollment
- Make normal progress toward your program
- Keep your I-20 or DS-2019 accurate and up to date
- Follow employment rules and receive authorization when required
- Report required changes, such as a new U.S. address
- Follow other rules of your F-1 or J-1 status
Proposed changes to Duration of Status
The U.S. government has proposed ending the current Duration of Status (D/S) policy for F-1 and J-1 students. If finalized, this change would replace the current system with a different process for determining how long students may stay in the country.
The proposal could affect many aspects of studying in the U.S., including:
- Changing majors or academic objectives
- Extending an I-20 or DS-2019
- Changing education levels
- Transferring schools
- How long F-1 students may remain in the U.S. after the completion of their program
At this time, these changes have not taken effect. Current F-1 and J-1 rules, including Duration of Status, remain in effect.
Looking ahead
Duration of Status is the foundation of how most F-1 and J-1 students maintain lawful status in the United States today. Instead of receiving a fixed end date when entering the country, students admitted under D/S may remain in the U.S. as long as they continue to maintain their immigration status and follow the requirements of their F-1 or J-1 classification.
Because the government has proposed significant changes to this policy, we encourage you to stay informed. ISS will continue to update our guidance as new information becomes available. Visit the ISS Duration of Status Hub for the latest updates, answers to frequently asked questions, and resources explaining what the proposal could mean for international students.