Important Update: Court Action on the D/S Rule

September 14, 2026
DHS CBP Entry Stamp showing F-1 status and duration of status

There has been an important update on the litigation challenging the Department of Homeland Security's rule that would have ended “Duration of Status” (D/S) for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and their F-2/J-2 dependents, effective September 15, 2026.

At the end of the day on Monday, September 14, 2026, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Presidents' Alliance et al. v. DHS) has issued an order preliminarily enjoining DHS from implementing this rule. As a result, the rule ending D/S will NOT take effect on September 15th as originally scheduled, and the current D/S framework remains in place for now. What this means is that:

  • You and your dependents may continue to be admitted and to remain in the U.S. for Duration of Status, as long as you continue to comply with the terms of your program.
  • You do not currently need to apply for an Extension of Stay under the fixed-admission-period system the new rule would have created
  • If you are an F-1 student, you are not subject to the rule's new limits on changing your educational objective, transferring institutions, or pursuing additional programs of study – these restrictions also do not go into effect while the preliminary injunction is in place.
  • No action is required on your part at this time.

Please note that this is a preliminary court order, not a final resolution. The administration may appeal, and the underlying litigation is ongoing. The rule may still take effect later, depending on how the case proceeds. We will continue to monitor developments closely and update you as soon as anything changes.

We recognize that this rule has created ongoing uncertainty and many questions for our community. For now, we will continue to operate within the existing D/S framework until there are further developments in the case.

In the meantime, please continue to carry your immigration documents and maintain your immigration status as usual. If you have questions about how this affects your individual situation or your dependents' status, please contact your designated OISS adviser.