4-year fixed stay for F1 students: attorney warns against travel

The Trump administration finalized a 4-year fixed stay rule for F-1 students, replacing the previous 'duration of status' policy.

Immigration attorney Emily Neumann warns F-1 students currently in the US not to travel abroad, as re-entry will subject them to the new fixed-date admission on their I-94.

Students already in the US maintaining status before the effective date (September 15, 2026) are generally protected until the earliest of their I-20 program end date, four years out, or a status violation.

After September 15, re-admitted students will receive a fixed-date I-94 with a 30-day departure window, and an extension of stay (Form I-539) will be required to stay past that date.

The rule also applies to J-1 exchange visitors and I visa journalists, but international students are the largest affected group.