International Students Urged to Return to the U.S. by September 15 Ahead of New F-1 Rules

Harvard University is advising F-1 students, J-1 students, and J-1 scholars enrolled in on-campus programs to try to be physically present in the United States on September 15, 2026, when a major Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule changing how F and J nonimmigrants are admitted to the U.S. is scheduled to take effect.

The recommendation does not mean September 15 is a new federal deadline requiring every international student to return to the country. Instead, Harvard is responding to transitional provisions in the DHS rule that may give students already inside the U.S. on the effective date different treatment from those who enter or re-enter afterward.

Columbia University has issued similar travel guidance, recommending that students return to New York before fall classes begin on September 8, 2026.

What Changes on September 15?

DHS published its final rule on July 17, 2026, replacing the longstanding “duration of status,” or D/S, system for F, J, and I nonimmigrants with fixed periods of admission. The rule is scheduled to become effective on September 15, 2026.

Under the current D/S system, an F-1 student generally does not receive a specific immigration-status expiration date on Form I-94. Instead, the student can remain in the United States while properly maintaining F-1 status through an academic program and authorized practical training.

Under the new system, F-1 and J-1 students entering the United States will generally receive an Admit Until Date (AUD) tied to their program, with the authorized period generally limited to the program length and no more than four years. Students who need additional time may have to apply to USCIS for an Extension of Stay rather than relying only on a program extension processed through their school.

The final rule also reduces the standard F-1 grace period after completion of a program or authorized post-completion practical training from 60 days to 30 days for students subject to the new rules.

Why Harvard Is Recommending Students Be in the U.S. on September 15

The final rule contains transitional protections for F-1 and J-1 students who are already in the United States in valid status when the rule becomes effective.

According to Harvard's International Office, students and scholars who are present in the U.S. on September 15 can generally remain without immediately filing an Extension of Stay until the applicable end of their current academic program or post-completion work authorization, subject to the transition limits in the rule. F-1 students covered by this transition also retain the existing 60-day grace period, while J-1 holders retain their 30-day grace period.

Travel changes the situation.

Harvard warns that if an F-1 or J-1 student or dependent leaves the United States and re-enters on or after September 15, the new fixed-period admission rules will apply upon re-entry. The student's new Form I-94 may therefore contain a specific Admit Until Date rather than “D/S.”

That is why the university is recommending that students registered in on-campus programs try to be physically present in the country when the rule takes effect.

This Rule Could Also Affect F-1 Transfers and Program Changes

The impact goes beyond international travel.

The final rule contains significant restrictions on academic mobility for F-1 students. Among other changes, DHS states that graduate-level F-1 students generally may not transfer schools or change their educational objective during a program, unless an SEVP-authorized exception for extenuating circumstances applies. The rule also limits students who complete one educational level from beginning another F-1 program at the same or a lower educational level.

These provisions could be especially important for students considering transferring to another graduate institution, including students evaluating Day 1 CPT programs. A transfer strategy that may have been possible under the previous F-1 framework should not automatically be assumed to work the same way after the new rule takes effect.

Students planning a transfer, change of program, or another degree should review their individual situation with their Designated School Official (DSO) before making enrollment, employment, or travel decisions.

Could the September 15 Rule Still Be Blocked?

Yes, although the rule currently remains scheduled to take effect.

On August 18, 2026, NAFSA, the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and several other organizations filed a federal lawsuit challenging the rule. The plaintiffs have asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts for a preliminary injunction that could stop the rule from taking effect while litigation continues.

As of August 24, however, no court order identified in the available filings has suspended the rule. Universities are therefore continuing to prepare for the September 15, 2026 effective date.

International students with travel scheduled around September 15 should monitor updates from DHS and their university's international student office, particularly because either further government guidance or the pending lawsuit could change how the rule is implemented.

Sources:

• DHS Final Rule — Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure
• Harvard International Office — 2026 Duration of Status Rule Change
• Columbia University ISSO — Fixed Time Period of Admission Rule
• NAFSA — Coalition Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging Rule Ending Duration of Status
• The Indian Express — Why Harvard Wants International Students Back by Sept. 15

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