Change of Educational Program or Degree

PAUSED due to nationwide injunction: Fixed period of admission & extension of stay

Update on the DHS Fixed Period of Admission Rule: Implementation delayed

The DHS Fixed Period of Admission Final Rule (published July 17, 2026) was scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026. However, because of ongoing litigation, implementation of the rule has been delayed, and it will not take effect on that date. For now, the current regulations remain in place and continue to govern F and J for nonimmigrants. This means the existing duration of status system for F and J students and exchange visitors remains unchanged.

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. government published a that creates a fixed admission end date for international students who hold F-1 and J-1 visa status. This rule changes the process for these students to extend their stays in the United States and adds other restrictions limiting the students’ ability to make academic changes. Re-entry to the U.S. on or after the September 15 effective date will result in the immediate assignment of a specific Admit Unitl Date (AUD); the benefit of the D/S transition provision is eliminated after that reentry.

Feel free to contact ISSS with questions. 

When to apply:

If you advance from one educational program or level to another and stay at the same school, USCIS must be notified of the change.

Eligibility

  1. You must have been a full-time student maintaining status.
  2. You must enroll in the program in the next available term after leaving the previous program or in the first term following an authorized vacation.

What you need to do

  • Notify ISSS that you will be changing your program.

What ISSS will do

  • Update your I-20 information in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and give you a new, updated I-20.
  • °¿¸éÌýIf you go outside the United States (except for a trip of 30 days or less to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean Islands other than Cuba), you may accomplish the change by presenting a new I-20 showing the new program or degree to an immigration officer at the port of entry. The immigration officer should adjudicate the I-20 and stamp and return your I-20 to show the change. If this was not accomplished, see an international student advisor.

Important

If you accomplish the change by re-entering the United States with the new I-20, you must have a valid passport, a valid visa, and otherwise be eligible for entry to the United States. If you have questions, see an international student advisor.