Immigration News

Fixed Time Period Rule and Extension of Stay

Editor's note:

UPDATE: 9/14/2026: Final rule to eliminate Duration of Status has been postponed 

September 14, 2026

On September 14, a U.S. district judge in Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction in the litigation in the duration of status case filed by the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. This blocks the proposed rule from taking effect while the litigation proceeds. The rule would have introduced fixed-time-period of admission, among other rule changes about degree programs at the same level.

The rule will not be implemented until there is further judicial action.  

This is a developing story and we will provide additional details as they are available. 

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Original News Item: July 30, 2026

The new rule replacing “duration of status” with a “fixed time period of admission”​ has generated a lot of questions and concerns in the Columbia international community, and ISSO is here to help make sense of the implementation and implications.  

In addition to the dedicated webpage set up with FAQs and resources, and the increased availability of consultation slots with ISSO advisers, ISSO will also host a webinar series for F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars that will explain the new rule, address common concerns, and cover topics that are important to know for the months ahead.

Additional webinars will continue to open for registration in the coming days. We invite you to attend one of the following webinars, prepared and delivered by ISSO advisers. Please attend the webinar consistent with your visa type.

These sessions will not be recorded, but slides will be available on ISSO’s Fixed Time Period webpage after the presentation, behind a UNI log in.

ISSO is here to support our international student and scholar community, and we will continue to provide guidance on this new rule in the weeks leading up to the effective date of September 15th, 2026.

ISSO Webinar Series: What You Need to Know About the New Rule on Fixed Time Period of Admission and Extension of Stay


The webinars will not be recorded but slides will be posted following each session.

Registration links will be added on ISSO’s Fixed Time Period webpage as they are available.

What J-1 Scholars Need to Know

  • Friday, July 31st at 2pm
     

What Departments Sponsoring J-1 Faculty, Researchers and Scholars Need to Know (Morningside/Manhattanville Departments Only)

  • Monday, August 3rd at 1pm


What F-1 Students Need to Know

  • Tuesday, August 4th at 2pm
  • Thursday, August 6th at 11am (repeat)
     

What J-1 Students Need to Know

  • Friday, August 7th at 12pm
  • Monday, August 10th at 1pm (repeat)
     

Impacts of the New Rule on International Travel

  • Thursday, August 13th at 3pm
  • Friday, August 14th at 12pm (repeat)


What New F-1/J-1 Students Need to Know

  • Wed, August 19th at 10am


Impacts of the New Rule on Student Employment (On campus, CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, AT)

  • Thursday, August 20th at 2pm
  • Friday, August 21st at 11am (repeat)
     

What F-1 Students Need to Know

  • Thursday, September 10 at 11am