Not yet. The US Department of Homeland Security's final rule replacing "duration of status" with a fixed admission period for F-1 students was due to take effect on 15 September 2026, but a federal court postponed it on 14 September 2026, and it remains on hold while the government appeals. If it does take effect, it will remove several "Plan B" options Indian master's students have relied on, so it is worth planning around now.
Written by Ananta Deepti · Last verified 13 Oct 2026 · Sources below
Policy status, 13 Oct 2026 What: DHS final rule, "Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission…", published 17 July 2026 Was due: 15 September 2026 Status: Final, but NOT in force. Effective date postponed by a US federal court order of 14 September 2026; government appeal pending Published by: US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Prefer to watch? See the full video: Fixed Admission Period vs Duration of Status: How US Visa Rule Changes Impact You. The video was recorded before the court order. Where the two differ, this post has the current position.
Is the US F-1 fixed admission period rule in force?
No. DHS published the final rule in the Federal Register on 17 July 2026, with an effective date of 15 September 2026.
On 14 September 2026, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts postponed the rule's effective date in a case brought by a group led by the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. The court used its power under the Administrative Procedure Act to delay a rule while the legal challenge is decided, and applied the postponement to the rule as a whole. (Court docket: Presidents' Alliance v. DHS, 1:26-cv-13799)
The government filed an appeal on 30 September 2026. The appeal does not bring the rule into force. Until a court says otherwise, F-1 students continue to be admitted under duration of status.
DHS's own student website still describes the rule as coming and does not yet mention the court order, so check the date on anything you read. (Study in the States: Final Rule Quick Facts)
Could I change my master's programme after reaching the US?
Today, yes, with your university's approval. One of our students went to the US for a master's in Electrical Engineering, found it harder than he expected, and moved to Data Science. His university updated his record in SEVIS and issued a new I-20.
If the rule takes effect, that option goes. Students at graduate level or above could not change their major, or their educational level, at any point during their programme. (Study in the States)
So don't choose a master's on the thinking "I got an admit, let me reach America and figure out the rest". Talk to seniors, look at the job market and settle your specialisation before you leave India.
Could I transfer to a cheaper US university after one semester?
Some families plan this way: the admit is from a good but expensive university, so the student manages the first semester and then moves somewhere cheaper. Under the current rules, a transfer that meets the F-1 requirements is handled between the two universities through SEVIS.
Under the rule, this would no longer work for master's students. Students at graduate level or above could not transfer at any point during their programme, unless SEVP grants an exception for extenuating circumstances. The "complete your first year first" condition applies only to students below graduate level. (Study in the States)
Choose a university whose full cost your family can genuinely sustain. Your university choice and your financial plan before leaving India matter more than ever.
Could I do a second master's in the US if I don't get an H-1B?
After a STEM master's, you can get up to 12 months of OPT and, if eligible, a 24-month STEM OPT extension: up to three years of work in the US. (USCIS: OPT for F-1 students; Study in the States: STEM OPT Hub)
Some students who were not selected for an H-1B in that time enrolled in a second master's to stay in F-1 status. Under the rule, after completing a programme you could not enrol in another programme at the same or a lower level. A second master's, or a bachelor's after a master's, would not be allowed. Moving up, for example from a master's to a PhD, is not covered by this restriction. (Study in the States)
If your long-term plan is master's, then OPT and STEM OPT, then H-1B, with "another master's" as the fallback, don't build on that fallback.
Is CPT still allowed for F-1 students?
Yes, but the rules are now applied much more strictly. This is separate from the fixed admission rule and from the court case.
In August 2026, SEVP told universities that CPT (Curricular Practical Training) may be authorised only when the training is an integral part of an established curriculum, and not solely for employment. If the practical training is optional for students in the programme, for example through an elective internship course, it does not qualify. CPT must be required of all students in that curriculum. (SEVP Broadcast 2608-01, 12 Aug 2026 (PDF); SEVP Broadcast 2608-02, 24 Aug 2026 (PDF))
Universities have responded. The University of Washington has paused new optional CPT authorisations while it reviews its policy, and USC now authorises CPT only where practical training is a degree requirement for graduation. (UW International Student Services; USC Office of International Services)
CPT has not been banned. But if someone tells you "don't worry, you can work on CPT during the programme", ask the university one question: is practical training a required part of this degree for every student?
What would replace duration of status?
Under duration of status, your stay is tied to maintaining F-1 status rather than to a fixed date. The rule would admit F-1 students for the length of the programme on the I-20, up to a maximum of four years, plus 30 days to arrive and 30 days to depart. (Study in the States)
This does not mean you could study in the US for only four years. A student who needs more time, for a longer PhD, a new programme, or OPT and STEM OPT, would apply to USCIS for an extension of stay, or leave and be readmitted by US Customs and Border Protection with a new admission period.
The bigger change is in approach: instead of one open-ended stay, there would be regular checkpoints where your case is looked at again.
What this means for you
If you are planning a US master's, there is no need to panic, and nothing has changed in your visa process today. But the direction is clear, and the rule may still come into force after the appeal.
- Choose your master's carefully. Don't assume you can switch specialisation after you arrive.
- Choose a university you can afford for the whole programme. Don't plan on transferring to a cheaper one.
- Don't treat a second master's as your H-1B backup.
- If CPT matters to you, check how practical training is built into the curriculum before you accept an offer.
The US still offers some of the world's best universities and strong career opportunities. Earlier, students had several Plan Bs after reaching America. Some of those may be going away, so your Plan A needs to be stronger before you leave India. Compare the US with other options on our study destinations page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the F-1 duration of status rule in effect now?
No. A US federal court postponed it on 14 September 2026, the day before it was due to start. The government has appealed. F-1 students are still admitted under duration of status.
Can a master's student transfer universities under the new F-1 rule?
If the rule takes effect, graduate students could not transfer at any point during their programme unless SEVP grants an exception for extenuating circumstances.
Will I be limited to four years in the US on an F-1 visa?
Not strictly. The rule would set a fixed admission period of up to four years, but you could apply to USCIS for an extension of stay for a longer programme, a new programme or OPT.
Is Day 1 CPT banned?
CPT has not been banned. SEVP's August 2026 guidance says CPT is allowed only when practical training is an integral, required part of the curriculum for all students, so check each university's programme carefully.
Sources
- Federal Register: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission… (final rule, 17 Jul 2026)
- US District Court, D. Mass.: Presidents' Alliance v. DHS, 1:26-cv-13799 (docket)
- Study in the States (DHS): Final Rule Quick Facts
- SEVP Broadcast Message 2608-01 (PDF) and 2608-02 (PDF)
- USCIS: Optional Practical Training for F-1 students
- Study in the States: STEM OPT Hub
- University of Washington ISS: Update on CPT policy · USC OIS: Update regarding CPT
Update note: This post was written on 13 Oct 2026, after the court order. We will update it when the appeal is decided or DHS publishes a notice.
Last verified: 13 Oct 2026
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Watch the video: Fixed Admission Period vs Duration of Status: How US Visa Rule Changes Impact You
