I'm already studying in the US — does the new rule affect me?
⚠️ Current status (updated 2026-09-16): this rule is on hold — a federal court has blocked it. On 2026-09-14 a nationwide preliminary injunction stopped the rule from taking effect on its scheduled 2026-09-15 date, so Duration of Status (D/S) still applies and no immediate action is required for now. The government may appeal and this can change, so confirm the current status with USCIS and a university international-student office such as Yale OISS. (What follows describes what the rule would do if it ever takes effect — none of it is in force today.)
Good instinct to ask — this is exactly the nuance most people miss, and the answer isn't a simple "no."
Being already enrolled doesn't make you exempt — it gets you a transition, not a pass. Here's the shape of it, as we last checked this page in 07/2026 (this is a brand-new rule, so treat it as the current picture, not a permanent one):
| Situation | What changes |
|---|---|
| Currently in "Duration of Status," maintaining status on Sept 15, 2026 | Can generally stay until your I-20 program end date (or OPT/STEM OPT EAD end date) — but not beyond ~Sept 15, 2030 (4 years from the effective date), plus a short grace period |
| You travel abroad and re-enter after Sept 15, 2026 | You lose the transition — you come back in under the new fixed-date framework immediately |
| New F-1 students admitted on/after Sept 15, 2026 | Fully under the new rule from day one — no transition at all |
| Grace period after you finish | 30 days — the old 60-day period is gone — to prepare to depart, transfer, apply for OPT, or change status |
Five Branches told its current international students on September 15, 2026 that the transition is automatic for those in the United States on that date — nothing to file — with the authorized stay matching the I-20 program end date, capped at four years from that date. A student who will need longer applies for an Extension of Stay with USCIS together with a recommendation from the school’s International Student Services officer. The school has said it is reviewing the rule and DHS guidance and will share more as the review progresses.
So the honest summary: your I-94 doesn't change today, but a hard cap and a travel trigger now sit underneath your current status. If you're finishing a doctoral-length program, or thinking about international travel before you're done, that's precisely the kind of detail worth confirming before you plan a trip home.
This is general orientation, not a ruling on your specific case — your school's DSO is your free first-stop expert on exactly how this applies to your I-20, alongside USCIS.gov and, for anything case-specific, a licensed immigration attorney.
Curious what part of your own timeline this touches — finishing your current program, or planning travel in the meantime?
Sources
- Five Branches University — published materials checked 2026-07
- Five Branches University — announcement to students, “Update on Changes to F-1 Regulations” 2026-09-15
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