A major US immigration change will affect how many international students plan their studies. From 15 September 2026, the United States will replace the F-1 “duration of status” system with a fixed admission period based on the programme listed on the student's Form I-20, generally capped at four years. For Singaporean families, the practical response is to check the university's I-20 carefully, build extra time and immigration costs into the plan, and discuss transfers, second degrees and OPT with the university's designated school official (DSO) before the student's authorised stay expires.
Sources: DHS Study in the States ; U.S. Dept of Commerce country guide
What Is Changing?
Under the existing system, most F-1 students are admitted for “duration of status”, commonly shown as D/S on the Form I-94. This generally allows a student to remain in the United States while maintaining valid F-1 status, completing the approved programme and, where authorised, undertaking practical training.
The final DHS rule replaces D/S with a specific Admit Until Date (AUD), recorded on the student's Form I-94. The admission period will normally follow the length of the programme stated on the Form I-20, but it cannot exceed four years. The rule was published on 17 July 2026 and is scheduled to take effect on 15 September 2026 — until 14 September 2026, the existing duration-of-status arrangements remain in place.
Sources: DHS Study in the States ; Federal Register (summary)
| Issue | Existing arrangement |  From 15 September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Admission period | Duration of status, shown as D/S on Form I-94 | Fixed periodshown by an Admit Until Date |
| Main time limit | Linked to maintaining valid F-1 status and completing the programme | Programme length on I-20up to four years |
| Extra time | Usually handled through the school and status rules | Extension of stay (USCIS)or departure and readmission |
| Post-completion departure period | 60 days for F-1 students | 30 days |
| OPT / STEM OPT beyond the AUD | Existing rules apply | Extension of stay may be required if training extends beyond the AUD |
| Dependants (F-2) | Status linked to the F-1 student | Fixed admission period, cannot exceed the F-1 student's period |
Source: DHS Study in the States
The four-year figure is not a guarantee that every student has exactly four years. A shorter programme may result in a shorter admission period. A programme that runs longer than four years, or a student who needs additional time, may require an extension. DHS says F-1 students will typically receive the programme period, up to four years, together with a 30-day period for arrival and an additional 30-day period for departure. The relevant fixed date is recorded on the Form I-94, so students should not rely only on the visa sticker in their passport or the expected graduation date.
Sources: Federal Register (summary) ; DHS Study in the States
The shorter departure window matters most after graduation. Under the new rule, an F-1 student generally has 30 days — not 60 — to leave the United States, change status or take another permitted immigration step.
Source: U.S. ICE news release
Who Is Affected?
New students entering on/after 15 Sep 2026
Admitted under the fixed-period system. The admission period is connected to the programme end date on the Form I-20, subject to the four-year maximum. A standard four-year undergraduate degree may be admitted for a period aligned with that programme, subject to the details recorded by US Customs and Border Protection; a shorter master's programme may receive a shorter period.
Students already in the United States
May generally remain without filing an extension until the I-20 programme end date, or until the end of post-completion OPT/STEM OPT valid on the effective date. Transition outside date: 14 November 2030, including the relevant 60-day departure period. A student who travels and seeks readmission on or after 15 September 2026 may be admitted under the new fixed-period framework instead.
Source: DHS Study in the States
Families should therefore ask the university's international student office before booking overseas travel. A trip that looks routine may affect the admission period issued when the student returns.
How Extensions Will Work
A student who needs extra time may apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This may apply when the student needs additional time to complete the current programme, begin a new programme, or undertake post-completion OPT or STEM OPT beyond the authorised admission date. The student must first work with the university's Designated School Official (DSO), who may recommend the extension in SEVIS, update the programme end date where appropriate and issue an updated Form I-20 containing the recommendation.
The student then files Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, with the required evidence, pays the applicable fee and provides biometrics when required. USCIS must receive the application before the authorised admission period expires — DHS says students may apply from 180 days before the AUD expires. USCIS has not provided a single permanent fee figure in the DHS FAQ; its official fee page says applicants must check the current fee schedule or fee calculator because fees can change, and an incorrect payment may lead to rejection.
Sources: DHS Study in the States ; USCIS filing fees
An extension of stay is separate from a university's academic programme extension. A DSO may update a programme end date in SEVIS for an eligible academic reason, but the student may still need a separate USCIS extension if the new programme end date goes beyond the student's authorised admission period.
Departure and readmission
Instead of an EOS filed from inside the US, some students may leave the country and seek readmission with updated documents. DHS says a student beginning a new programme may travel and seek a new admission period from CBP, using the relevant Form I-20 and a valid visa. This is not an automatic shortcut — travel, visa validity, documents and CBP decisions all matter, so students should get DSO guidance before leaving.
Pending applications and employment
A student who files an EOS on time before the AUD expires may generally continue certain authorised employment for up to 240 days while the application is pending (on-campus employment, severe-hardship off-campus work, and CPT among the activities covered). A student who files during the 30-day departure period must stop employment while the EOS is pending, resuming only if approved.
Source: DHS Study in the States
Academic Planning for Singaporeans
Singaporean students and parents should examine the programme structure before accepting an offer. A normal four-year degree may fit within the new maximum, but a student who changes course, takes an approved break, repeats modules or adds a substantial second programme may need additional immigration planning. The I-20 programme end date becomes more important because it helps determine the fixed admission period — families should keep copies of the I-20, visa, SEVIS records, travel history and Form I-94, and check the I-94 after entry.
Source: DHS Study in the States
Transfers, majors and second degrees
- Below graduate level: changing your educational objective or transferring to another SEVP-certified school generally requires completing the first academic year at the school that issued your initial Form I-20 (SEVP may authorise exceptions for extenuating circumstances).
- Graduate level and above: the rule is stricter — the Federal Register states graduate-level F-1 students may be restricted from changing educational objectives or transferring during the programme, absent an authorised exception.
- Second degrees / higher study: moving to a new, higher education level requires a new Form I-20 and, if extra time is needed, a timely EOS application — completing one degree does not automatically create a fresh period of lawful stay for the next one.
- OPT and STEM OPT: not removed by the rule, but if authorised practical training extends beyond the AUD, the DSO's SEVIS recommendation plus a USCIS EOS filing may be required. A student who timely filed for post-completion OPT/STEM OPT on or before six months after the effective date does not need to file an EOS under DHS's transition FAQ — confirm your own filing date against the rule's wording.
Sources: Federal Register (full text) ; GovInfo (rule PDF) ; DHS Study in the States
This makes “start at one university and decide later” a riskier strategy. Students considering a transfer pathway, dual-degree arrangement or major change should ask both institutions how the plan will interact with the student's I-20, SEVIS record and AUD. For Singaporean families, the sensible approach is to map the full timeline before enrolment: programme start, expected completion, OPT application window, employment authorisation, STEM OPT if applicable, AUD expiry and any required EOS filing.
Singapore Context
The US remains a meaningful destination for Singaporean students. A US Department of Commerce country guide, citing 2022 Open Doors data, reported 3,901 Singaporean students studying in the United States. That figure is not a current 2026 headcount, so it should be treated as historical context rather than a present estimate — the official material fetched for this article did not verify a newer Singapore-specific total.
Source: U.S. Dept of Commerce country guide
For families comparing the United States with other destinations, the rule adds a compliance and planning layer rather than making US study impossible. The main financial risks are potential USCIS filing and biometric costs, professional advice where needed, travel costs if readmission is used, and the possibility that a delayed graduation or complicated transfer requires more time than originally budgeted.
A Practical Checklist
- Ask the university how the programme end date on the Form I-20 will interact with the fixed admission period.
- Check whether a four-year degree includes a co-operative placement, extended internship or other component that may affect completion timing.
- Discuss major changes, transfers, dual degrees and second degrees before accepting the offer.
- Plan OPT and STEM OPT dates together with the university’s DSO.
- Check the Form I-94 and record the Admit Until Date after entering the United States.
- Start reviewing an EOS application well before the 180-day filing window — never wait until the AUD has expired.
- Budget for the applicable USCIS filing fee, biometrics and possible travel costs.
- Seek current advice from the university’s international student office, since implementation guidance may be updated after publication of the rule.
Source: DHS Study in the States
The change does not remove the value of a US education, but it makes immigration dates much less forgiving. The safest plan treats the I-20, SEVIS record, I-94 and OPT schedule as essential parts of the academic plan — not paperwork to review only after a problem appears.
Note on completeness: As of 11 August 2026, the official sources fetched for this article did not provide a fixed Form I-539 filing-fee amount or a newer official Singapore-specific student headcount than the 3,901 figure cited from 2022 data. Those details have therefore not been estimated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the new F-1 visa rule mean every Singaporean student gets only four years?
No. The fixed admission period is generally based on the programme length listed on the Form I-20 and is capped at four years. A student whose programme is shorter may receive a shorter period, while a student needing more time may apply for an extension of stay.
When does the four-year F-1 rule start?
The DHS final rule takes effect on 15 September 2026. F-1 students continue under duration of status through 14 September 2026, while new and continuing students entering the United States from the effective date may receive a fixed admission period.
Will the F-1 grace period become 30 days?
Yes. The final rule reduces the F-1 post-completion departure period from 60 days to 30 days. Students should use that time to depart, change status or complete another permitted immigration step rather than assuming they have two months after graduation.
Can an F-1 student still change major or transfer university?
The change becomes more restricted. Students below the graduate level generally must complete their first academic year at the school that issued the initial Form I-20 before changing educational objectives or transferring, unless SEVP authorises an exception; graduate-level students face stricter restrictions.
Will the new rule cancel OPT?
No. OPT and STEM OPT remain part of the F-1 framework described by DHS, but students may need an extension of stay if authorised practical training continues beyond the fixed admission date. The student must coordinate the required SEVIS recommendation, updated I-20 and USCIS filing with the DSO.
What should current F-1 students in America do now?
They should check their current I-20, programme end date, OPT details and Form I-94, especially before international travel. Current students may generally remain under the transition provisions, but returning to the United States after 15 September 2026 may result in admission under the new fixed-period system.
Related Resources
University IGP 2026/2027 Guide
How points and grades convert for admission when comparing local and overseas study paths.
QS World University Rankings 2027
See how NUS and NTU compare globally against US universities Singaporean students consider.
The bottom line
The change does not remove the value of a US education, but it makes immigration dates much less forgiving. For a Singaporean student, the safest plan is one that treats the I-20, SEVIS record, I-94 and OPT schedule as essential parts of the academic plan — not paperwork to review only after a problem appears.
Sources
- 1.U.S. DHS, Study in the States — Final Rule: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure FAQ (last updated 20 Jul 2026). studyinthestates.dhs.gov
- 2.Federal Register — Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission... (2026-14439). federalregister.gov
- 3.Federal Register — Full text of Rule 2026-14439. federalregister.gov
- 4.U.S. GPO — Federal Register Rule PDF. govinfo.gov
- 5.U.S. ICE — Trump Administration Issues Final Rule to End Foreign Student Visa Abuse. ice.gov
- 6.USCIS — Filing Fees. uscis.gov
- 7.U.S. Dept of Commerce — Singapore Education and Training Services Industry Snapshot. trade.gov
Cite this page: SGSchoolKaki Education Team, “F-1 Visa Singapore: New Four-Year US Study Rule,” SGSchoolKaki, 14 Aug 2026, https://sgschoolkaki.com/blog/us-student-visa-four-year-cap-2026.