Summary of this article
New US student rules begin September 15.
F-1 and J-1 students face fixed admission periods.
Harvard advises students to plan travel cautiously.
International students who are planning to study in the United States have been advised to pay close attention to immigration and travel plans. A major immigration rule change is scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026. Universities like Harvard University have urged their international students and scholars to plan their travel cautiously and preferably be present in the US before the new rules come into force.
The advisory comes as the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS ) prepares to replace the existing duration of status framework for F-1 and J-1 students and scholars with a system that is set with fixed periods of admission. The change could have significant implications for international students, especially those who are travelling outside of the US after the deadline of September 15.
Under the current system, students with F-1 visas can remain in the United States for the duration of their academic programme, given they continue to maintain a valid immigration status. The new framework will instead introduce an Admit Until Date on Form I-94 for students. Right now, the admission period will correspond to the expected programme completion date, which is subject to a maximum tenure of four years.
This becomes important for students whose courses extend the expected tenure of the course or those who require additional time to complete their programmes. Under the new rules, they may need to seek an extension of stay rather than continuing their stay.
Why September 15 matters
As per a report by NDTV, Harvard’s international office has specifically warned that the students and scholars who are enrolled in universities in the US for their education should remain in the US when the rule takes effect in order to stay protected from transitional changes. However, those who leave the country and return after September 15, 2026, could be admitted under the new system. This has made international travel a key concern for students who start their course in the coming term. Harvard is recommending that eligible F-1 and J-1 students and J-1 scholars try to be in the US when the new rule is made effective.
This change is also being questioned with legal challenges; a coalition of unions and advocacy groups has opposed this decision by suing the US government. They argued that the fixed visa durations could discourage international students and affect the attractiveness of American universities.
For Indian students who are preparing to travel to the US, the immediate priority should be to check their I-20 or DS-2019 visa, travel plans and university guidelines before they make any transactions to fit the arrangements. Students should keep up with updates from universities and the US authorities, as implementation details remain subject to interpretation and legal developments.
