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Many US universities have advised students to return to the US before September 15 to avoid facing any administrative or immigration-related issues once the new rules come into effect.

US Student Visa Rules: A major change is on the horizon for thousands of Indian students preparing to study in the US. The US government is set to implement significant changes to student and exchange visa regulations starting September 15, 2026. Under these changes, the long-standing “Duration of Status” system will be replaced by a “Fixed Time Period of Admission” system. In light of this, many US universities have advised international students to return to the US before September 15 to avoid potential administrative or immigration complications after the new rules take effect. This change is being implemented under a new policy by the US Department of Homeland Security. It will impact holders of F-1 student visas, J-1 exchange visitor visas, and other visa categories. In particular, thousands of students from countries like India—who travel to the US for studies annually—will now need to keep a closer watch on their visa status and authorized period of stay.

What is the change?

Until now, students studying in the US on F-1 visas were admitted under the “Duration of Status” rule. This meant that as long as a student complied with the terms of their course, maintained full-time enrollment, and adhered to visa regulations, they could remain in the US; their period of stay was not tied to a specific end date. However, this system will change starting September 15, 2026. Under the new rules, students will be granted a specific period of stay upon entry, with a predetermined expiration date. If a student’s course extends beyond this period, they will need to apply to extend their stay in a timely manner or go through the re-entry process.

Stay Duration May Be Limited to 4 Years

Under the new system, most F-1 students will be permitted to stay in the U.S. for a maximum of four years, aligned with the duration of their academic program. Upon completing their course, they will be granted a 30-day grace period; previously, students typically received a 60-day grace period after finishing their studies. This change is likely to have the greatest impact on students pursuing long-term programs, such as PhDs or integrated research degrees. In such cases, if the study period exceeds four years, students must apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an extension of stay in a timely manner. This process will require submitting an updated Form I-120, documentation justifying the need for additional time, and, in many instances, proof of financial resources.

Stricter Rules for Overstaying

The new system introduces stricter regulations for students who remain in the U.S. beyond their authorized period of stay. If a student stays in the U.S. without authorization after their permitted time has expired, the clock for “unlawful presence” will begin to run. An individual who remains unlawfully for more than 180 days could face a three-year ban on re-entering the U.S., while overstaying for a year or more could result in a ten-year re-entry ban.

Will Changing Courses or Universities Become Difficult?

The new policy also tightens rules regarding changes to courses, majors, or institutions during the course of study. Undergraduate F-1 students will generally not be permitted to change their course or major during their first year, except under special circumstances approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Similarly, the process for graduate students to change programs or transfer to another institution will be more restricted than before.