What to Do When Your Student Visa Status Ends

International students often confuse two different things: the visa in your passport and your status in the US. Knowing the difference is the key to staying legal.

Visa vs. status

• The visa stamp is only for entering the US. It can expire while you are here without making you out of status.
• Your status depends on your I-20, your I-94 record and following F-1 rules.

The 2026 change: fixed admission periods

DHS published a final rule on July 17, 2026, effective September 15, 2026, ending "duration of status" for F, J and I visa holders. New F-1 admissions now carry a fixed end date on the I-94, generally the program end date on the I-20 (capped at four years) plus 30 days, and the post-completion departure period for F-1 students drops from 60 to 30 days (Mintz; Federal Register). Students who need more time must file an extension of stay with USCIS before the I-94 date. Students already in the US in duration of status get transition dates under the rule.

When your program ends

Before the grace period ends, you can:

• Depart the US
• Transfer to another school by having your SEVIS record transferred
• Start a new program, such as a higher degree
• Apply for or begin OPT (Optional Practical Training), and STEM OPT if eligible
• Change status, such as to H-1B. Students with pending cap H-1B petitions may benefit from the cap-gap extension. See H-1B.

If your SEVIS record is terminated

Termination can result from dropping below full-time enrollment, unauthorized work, or other violations, and in recent years some terminations have been based on government record checks. Talk to your school's Designated School Official (DSO) right away and an immigration lawyer about reinstatement, transfer or departure options.

If your visa is revoked

A revoked visa stamp affects future travel. Whether it ends your status is a separate question; get advice before traveling.

Overstay consequences

Staying past your authorized period can lead to unlawful presence. More than 180 days triggers a 3-year bar on returning after departure; one year or more triggers a 10-year bar (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B)). See overstaying a visa.

Practical steps

1. Check your I-94 online and your I-20 end date.
2. Talk to your DSO before your program ends.
3. Keep copies of all I-20s, EAD cards and transcripts.

An immigration lawyer can help with reinstatement, change of status or work visas.

Sources

1. Mintz: DHS issues final rule creating fixed period of admission for F, J and I visa holders
2. Federal Register: Establishing a fixed time period of admission for nonimmigrant academic students (July 17, 2026)
3. Cornell Law School LII: 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B), Unlawful presence bars