In a surprise move that reverberated across Canadian campuses and corporate mobility teams on 17 July 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final rule eliminating the long-standing “Duration of Status” (D/S) admission period for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors. Beginning 15 September 2026, Canadians who study, conduct research or undertake work-and-study exchanges in the United States will receive an I-94 arrival record with a fixed departure date rather than the open-ended D/S notation that previously covered them for the entire length of their academic or research program. For Canadian universities, the change adds a new layer of immigration risk management. Students who change majors, extend their programme or move on to post-graduation Optional Practical Training (OPT) will have to file formal extension applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services—potentially paying US$470 in filing fees and waiting several months for adjudication. Institutions that routinely sent co-op or research cohorts across the border will need to build extra lead time into assignment planning and may see higher counselling volumes as students grapple with the new paperwork. The private sector will also feel the impact. Many Canadian companies station junior employees in U.S. offices on J-1 trainee status or hire Canadian graduates working on STEM-OPT. These employees will now be tied to a visa end-date—missing a filing deadline could place them out of status and expose the employer to penalties. Global mobility managers will need to track individual I-94 expiries, budget for legal fees and coach business units on the narrower grace periods built into the rule. Border logistics could become more complicated. Travellers re-entering the United States for conferences or weekend trips home will no longer rely on the automatic D/S safeguard; they must carry proof of a pending or approved extension or risk being admitted only until the date stamped in the system. Airlines have already begun updating their systems to flag passengers whose admission periods are about to lapse. Practical tips for Canadian organisations include: creating a central database of affected employees and students, scheduling extension filings 4-6 months in advance, and advising travellers to download their I-94 every time they cross to confirm the new expiry date. Though DHS cited “program integrity” as the driver, the policy is expected to increase administrative costs on both sides of the border and could make the United States a less flexible option for Canadian talent mobility.
