On June 17, 2026, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concluded its regulatory review of the final rule. The next step will be its publication in the Federal Register. The rule may be published in the Federal Register at any time. The final rule will go into effect 30-60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
We are closely monitoring the status of this rule, and will share important updates via this webpage as they become available.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) proposed a rule titled Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media, published on August 28, 2025, at 90 FR 42070.
The rule is still pending as of June 25th, 2026. The rule may be finalized at any time. The future effective date of the final rule will be 30-60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The full proposed rule is listed in the Federal Register here.
The rule’s impact on current students and scholars remains unclear. However, impact to current students and scholars is anticipated. Once the final rule is published, we will review and provide important updates.
Currently, F and J students and scholars are admitted to the U.S. for Duration of Status (D/S), as indicated on their Form I-94 record. D/S means that students and scholars may remain in the U.S. as long as their immigration status is maintained. This rule will replace D/S with a specific date, based on their Form I-20 or DS-2019, not to exceed four years in the future.
You can access your electronic I-94 record by selecting “Get Most Recent I-94/I-95” on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home
Prior to the fixed admission expiration date on the Form I-94, you would need to timely file a Form I-539 extension of stay application with USCIS. The extension process would require fees and biometrics.
The rule’s impact on the OPT application process remains unclear. However, a six-month transition period following the final rule’s effective date is anticipated for F-1 students applying for Post-Completion OPT, during which the I-539 extension of stay application process may not be necessary.
Reentering the U.S. after the final rule’s effective date may subject you to changes that you might not otherwise be subject to if you had remained in the U.S., depending on the final rule’s impact on current students and scholars. Once the final rule is published, we will review and provide important updates.
More generally, international travel is not recommended if you do not currently have a valid U.S. visa for re-entry. Visa processing times can be unpredictable, and additional security procedures may cause delays in renewing your visa.
If you are from one of the 39 designated countries and holders of Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents affected by travel restrictions, please consult with your advisor in International Student Services (ISS) or Office of Immigration Services (OIS) before making travel plans, even if your visa is valid.
Please remember that admission or re-admission to the U.S. is always at the discretion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Port of Entry. Therefore, some degree of risk is inherent with any international travel.
If you plan to travel this summer, ensure that you have the necessary documentation to return to the U.S. F-1/F-2 and J-1/J-2 travelers must verify that f their I-20s or DS-2019s has a valid travel endorsement before departing and should complete the required OU travel registration.
If you have any questions or concerns about travel, contact your advisor in International Students Services (ISS) or Office of Immigration Services (OIS) before your trip.
