Northwestern University’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) issued an updated advisory on July 24 detailing how the Department of Homeland Security’s new fixed-time admission rule will alter the landscape for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors beginning September 15. The advisory distills a DHS final rule published July 17 that abolishes “duration of status” (D/S) entries and replaces them with specific “admit-until” dates of up to four years. Under the rule, students entering or changing status on or after September 15 will receive an I-94 with an expiration aligned to the program end-date listed on the I-20 or DS-2019, plus a 30-day grace period (down from the current 60 days for F-1s). Extensions of stay will require a standalone Form I-539 filing and fee, creating new cost and processing-time hurdles. The regulation also restricts academic flexibility: undergraduates may not switch majors or transfer schools during their first year without SEVP approval, while graduate students are barred from moving to an equal or lower degree level at any point. Lateral or downward program shifts—such as returning for a second master’s—will be prohibited if the first program ends after the effective date. Universities anticipate administrative strain. Northwestern estimates that 28 percent of its 12,000 international students will hit the four-year maximum before their Ph.D. programs conclude, requiring mid-course extensions. Employers will likewise feel the impact: F-1 graduates applying for OPT after March 18, 2027 may need to submit both an I-539 extension and an I-765 work authorization, adding roughly US$1,250 in additional fees per hire. Global mobility managers should update assignment planning timelines and budget for extra legal costs. Students abroad are urged to enter the United States before September 15 if possible, thereby preserving legacy D/S status and a 60-day grace period through the end of their programs.
Source: Northwestern University OISS
