How Much More Could the United States Collect Under the New F-1 Student Rule?

The United States has formally changed the immigration rules governing F-1 students.

Beginning September 15, 2026, the new rule is scheduled to replace Duration of Status, commonly shown as “D/S,” with a fixed period of admission for F, J, and I nonimmigrants.

Under the previous system, most F-1 students could remain in the United States as long as they continued to maintain their student status. Under the new system, many students entering the country will receive a specific expiration date on their Form I-94.

At first glance, this may look like a simple change to a date. In reality, it creates a substantial new financial and administrative system.

DHS estimates that the rule may generate an annual average of approximately 393,500 extension-of-stay requests from F nonimmigrants. It also estimates approximately 28,000 requests from J nonimmigrants and 6,000 from I nonimmigrants.

The current online filing fee for Form I-539 is $470.

Using a basic calculation, 393,500 F-category extension requests multiplied by $470 would represent approximately $185 million in filing fees each year.

Including the estimated F, J, and I requests—approximately 427,500 in total—the filing-fee amount could reach roughly $201 million annually.

That does not mean the federal government would “profit” by $201 million.

USCIS is primarily fee-funded, and filing fees support staffing, technology, adjudication, and other operating expenses. In addition, qualifying dependents may sometimes file Form I-539A with a principal applicant without paying a separate I-539 fee. These calculations therefore illustrate the possible scale of the new filing system; they are not an official estimate of government net revenue.

For students and their families, however, the real cost will extend far beyond the $470 filing fee.

Consider a doctoral student who needs additional time to complete research or a dissertation. Under the former system, extending the program end date on Form I-20 was often the central step in maintaining status.

Under the new rule, if the student’s academic program continues beyond the expiration date on Form I-94, the student may also need to request an extension of stay from USCIS. That application may require an updated Form I-20, evidence of sufficient financial support, and other supporting documentation.

A student who completes a bachelor’s degree, begins a master’s program, and later applies for Optional Practical Training or a STEM OPT extension may encounter the extension process more than once during an academic career.

If the student needs professional assistance preparing the application, the actual cost of a single extension could reach well beyond the government filing fee.

For parents, even that expense may be the easier part to calculate.

The greater concern is whether the student can continue studying, begin OPT, or start a new job on time.

International travel presents another important issue.

Students who were admitted for Duration of Status before the rule’s effective date will generally receive transitional protection. Their existing admission will not automatically be replaced with a new I-94 expiration date on September 15, 2026.

However, international travel after the rule takes effect may end that protection. When a student returns to the United States, CBP may admit the student under the new fixed-period system and issue a Form I-94 containing a specific expiration date.

If the student’s F-1 visa remains valid, the student may not need to apply for a new visa solely because of the trip. CBP will nevertheless make a new admission decision and determine the authorized period of stay.

If the F-1 visa has expired, the student will generally need to apply for a new visa abroad. In addition to the current $185 visa application fee, the student may face airfare, lodging, updated financial documentation, interview scheduling, and the risk of administrative processing.

In the past, students planning a summer or winter trip home primarily considered airfare and timing.

Under the new system, students and their parents may also need to ask:

Will this trip place the student under the new fixed-period admission system?

What expiration date will appear on the student’s new Form I-94?

Will an extension of stay be required after returning?

Could the trip affect the timing of an OPT or STEM OPT application?

Can a new visa be issued in time?

Could administrative processing interfere with the start of school, practical training, or a new job?

The rule therefore does more than assign a new price to student status. It affects the cost and timing of academic extensions, international travel, graduate study, practical training, and employment.

DHS estimates that the rule will impose annualized societal costs of approximately $443.1 million to $448.6 million over its ten-year analytical period. That figure includes time and compliance costs incurred by nonimmigrants, schools, program officials, and other affected parties. It is not an estimate of government revenue.

For an individual family, the most expensive consequence may not be the filing fee. It may be the disruption that follows when immigration timing does not align with a student’s academic or employment plans.

Students should therefore look beyond the frequently repeated question: “Does this mean I can study in the United States for only four years?”

The answer is no. The rule does not require every student to leave school after four years. Eligible students may request an extension of stay or, depending on their circumstances, obtain a new period of admission through international travel and readmission.

The more important questions are:

When does your Form I-94 expire?

What is the program end date on your Form I-20?

When do you expect to graduate?

Are you planning to apply for OPT or STEM OPT?

Do you expect to travel internationally?

Could reentry end your current transitional protection?

Do you need to update your Form I-20 or prepare an extension request in advance?

Under the new rule, planning for an American education also means planning carefully for the immigration costs, deadlines, and risks that accompany it.