On September 14, 2026, a federal district court in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction postponing the effective date of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule that would replace the admission of F and J nonimmigrants for the duration of status with fixed periods of admissions. The rule was set to take effect on September 15, 2026. For the time being, DHS is barred from implementing the final rule, and F and J nonimmigrants will retain their admission for the duration of status.
The government is likely to quickly appeal the decision. There is the possibility of a reversal of the court order and perhaps a quick implementation of the regulation with little notice. The International Center will continue to monitor developments and will provide future updates as needed.