A new federal rule limiting how long international students can stay in the United States is sending ripples through California's colleges and universities, which host more foreign students than any other state. As campuses and students work through what the change means, the immigration attorneys at Bolour / Carl Immigration Group are advising F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and the institutions that host them on how to prepare.
The Department of Homeland Security finalized the rule on July 16, 2026, ending the 'duration of status' framework that had allowed international students to remain in the country for as long as they stayed enrolled and in good standing, a policy that had been on the books since 1978. As Fox 11 Los Angeles reported, F-1 and J-1 visa holders will now be admitted only for the length of their academic program, up to a maximum of four years, after which many will need federal permission to stay. The rule takes effect September 15, 2026, and reaches students already in the country, not just new arrivals.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the change is meant to curb what officials describe as abuse of open-ended student status and to move oversight from campus advisors back to federal authorities. The agency's guidance for students explains that admission will be tied to the program end date listed on a student's Form I-20, capped at four years, and that anyone needing additional time must file an Extension of Stay with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Higher-education groups have warned that the added paperwork and uncertainty could push global talent toward other countries.
The change reshapes how students plan their time in the U.S. in several ways. F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors will be admitted for the length of their program, up to a maximum of four years, replacing the open-ended system that had been in place for nearly five decades. Students who need more time—like doctoral and medical candidates in programs that run six or seven years—must apply to USCIS for an Extension of Stay and pass additional federal vetting. After finishing a program, students now have 30 days rather than 60 to leave the country or make their next move. Time spent in Optional Practical Training (OPT) now counts toward the four-year limit, and traveling abroad can reset a student's admission clock upon re-entry. Because the rule applies to students already enrolled, some current graduate researchers may need to begin the extension process before finishing their degrees.
California hosts more international students than anywhere else in the country. Those students contributed an estimated $6.4 billion to California's economy and supported more than 55,000 jobs in the 2023-24 academic year, according to NAFSA figures cited by the state's attorney general. University of California officials said they are 'deeply concerned' about the change, noting that at UC Berkeley alone, 6,879 students held F-1 or J-1 visas this past fall. Attorney General Rob Bonta had led a coalition of 16 attorneys general opposing the measure while it was still a proposal.
'Control over a student's timeline now moves from the university to the federal government,' said Alexander Carl, an attorney with Bolour / Carl Immigration Group. 'For anyone in a longer program like a PhD or medical training, the safest move is to plan for the extension process early rather than waiting until a deadline is near.' The firm advises that students should keep their SEVIS records accurate, stay in close contact with their designated school officials, and factor extension timing into their plans well before their four-year window runs out.
