Please read this information as a guide to help you with your studies and maintain a valid immigration status. The information below may not apply to international students at all campuses.
Duration of Status Change
Dear Student or Scholar,
WSU International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is writing to inform you of an immigration regulation rule that impacts how “duration of status” is managed.
Up until now in the U.S., F and J, visa holders were admitted for “duration of status” (D/S), meaning they can stay in the U.S. as long as they maintain their program activities. The new rule replaces this with a fixed end date on your Form I-94. This change aligns U.S. immigration procedures more closely with those used in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, where international students and scholars are typically admitted for a specific period of stay and must apply for extensions if additional time is needed.
Key Changes
- Fixed Admission Periods: Instead of D/S, your I-94 will have a specific admission end date aligned with your academic program length or four years, whichever is shorter.
- Formal Extension Applications: To stay beyond your fixed end date, you will need an extended I-20/DS2019 from our office and file a formal Extension of Stay (EOS) application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Unlike the extensions ISSS has processed in the past, filing through USCIS will require a fee and a biometrics appointment.
- Shortened F-1 Grace Period: The current 60-day grace period for F-1 students to prepare for departure or change of status is reduced to 30 days.
- Note: The 30-day grace period for J-1 students and scholars will remain the same.
- New Limits on Program Changes: The rule introduces stricter limits and prohibitions on changing majors, academic levels, or transferring schools, especially for graduate students.
WSU recognizes this is a substantial change and International Students and Scholar Services office is available for advising appointments to support and guide you. Please plan to book an appointment with ISSS using our website (links below) if you need support or have questions.
- International students: https://ip.wsu.edu/isss/studentservices/
- International scholars: https://ip.wsu.edu/isss/faculty-scholar-services/
If you have any questions about the above announcement, please contact International Student and Scholar Services.
- WSU students across the System, contact by phone +1 509-335-4508 or email ip.intlservices@wsu.edu