Please note that the final version of this ruling was published very recently. Everything outlined below is subject to change; new information may be added; and additional processes/procedures/policies related to Roosevelt University international students will likely be published on an ongoing basis.
We appreciate your patience and look forward to assisting all of our international students and alumni in this transition.
The final DHS rule replaces “Duration of Status” (D/S) admissions with fixed expiration dates, largely determined by CBP and outlined on a student’s Form I-94. This rule requires most F and J nonimmigrants to file extension applications with USCIS to remain in status, shortens the F-1 grace period from 60 to 30 days for new admissions, and limits changes to educational objectives.
The final DHS rule goes into effect on September 15, 2026. However, there are important caveats to the date that a student may be impacted by this ruling, based on their specific situations.
The following is a brief overview of the key changes related to this ruling but is not comprehensive and doesn’t constitute recommendations for individual student situations.
Please note that your AUD will not be available/generated until September 15, 2026. This means that new students for Fall 2026 will still arrive in the United States under the D/S status because they must arrive by the first day of the semester, which is August 31, 2026. For students already in the United States by this date, your AUD will be determined by the Program End Date on your Form I-20, your EAD card, or the recommended OPT End Date if your I-765 is pending with USCIS on September 15, 2026.
Moving forward, students who enter (or re-enter) the country on or after September 15, 2026 will receive their AUD on their Form I-94.
Submitting this form is required every semester for your check-in submission. You can access your Form I-94 here and by selecting “Get Most Recent I-94/I-95.”
If you’re an undergraduate student, you may change educational levels after your first year. If you’re a graduate student, you will need to complete your degree at the current level and submit a Form I-539 after being admitted into a higher degree and about 6 months prior to the end of your current AUD.
The Office of International Programs will provide updated guidance on Form I-539 at a later date.
The Form I-539 is USCIS’s (current) request for an EOS. You will need to submit this form – and pay the associated fee – if you need additional time in your F or J status past your AUD, including if you’re applying for OPT/STEM OPT after March 15, 2026. USCIS recommends filing the Form I-539 six months before your AUD.
The guidance on this question is vague in the final version of the DHS ruling. We hope to provide additional information at a later date.
If you’re applying for OPT or STEM OPT prior to March 15, 2027, you will proceed with the same process that is currently in place and outlined on OIP’s webpage.
If you plan to apply for OPT or STEM OPT after March 15, 2027, you will need to file both the Form I-539 and Form I-765. We will provide further guidance on the timing of these filings at a later date.
No. There are no changes to the regulations regarding campus work, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), or severe economic hardship work authorization. The only update currently outlined in the new ruling is that students may continue to work on campus and on CPT while their Form I-539 is pending up to 240 days.
All students – regardless of this new ruling – are expected to be present on campus for the first day of classes on August 31, 2026. During university breaks, international travel is still permitted, but you will re-enter the country (after September 15, 2026) with (possibly) a new AUD that will be outlined on your Form I-94. Otherwise, travel procedures remain the same.
The Office of International Programs (OIP) has appointments available in Navigate360. Once the academic year begins, OIP will have drop-in advising hours in AUD 686 from 10am-3pm. We still recommend booking an appointment so that you don’t have to wait but walk-ins are welcome.