Preparedness self-check

Plan your F-1 four-year limit

Use this F-1 four-year limit planner to identify whether you need to review your I-94, I-20, D/S transition status, PhD timeline, extension-of-stay plan, practical training, travel, and dependents with your DSO.

This is a preparation aid, not legal advice and not an approval prediction. Tick an item only when it is true for your exact nationality, route, documents, and travel plan.

Preparedness self-check

F-1 four-year limit planner

Use this to identify the next F-1 status action under the 2026 fixed-admission rule. It does not calculate a personal deadline, decide eligibility, or replace advice from your DSO or a qualified immigration professional.

Tick an item only when every point under it is true for your exact nationality, route, documents, and travel plan.

I know the difference between my visa stamp, F-1 status, and I-94 admission recordThe four-year rule concerns authorized admission and status. A visa stamp is a travel document, while the I-94 records the period you were admitted to the United States.

Tick only if

You checked your most recent I-94 record and know whether it says D/S or shows a date-certain admission end date.
You know the expiry date on a visa foil in your passport is not automatically your F-1 status end date.
You will use the I-94, I-20, and your DSO's guidance together before acting on an online timeline.

I know whether I am in the D/S transition group or have a date-certain admissionThe rule has different practical consequences for people in duration of status when it takes effect and people admitted later with an I-94 end date.

Tick only if

If you currently hold D/S, you have asked your school how the transition rule applies to your current I-20 program end date.
If you have a date-certain I-94, you recorded that date and the program date that led to it.
You understand that travel and readmission can change which admission record you are relying on.

My I-20, program end date, and expected PhD timeline are currentA doctoral program commonly runs beyond four years. Your current I-20 and the reason more time is needed are the starting point for later extension planning.

Tick only if

Your I-20 has the correct school, degree level, field of study, and program end date.
You compared your expected defense, dissertation, research, funding, and graduation timeline against the I-20 date.
You will request an I-20 update through your school promptly if the program timeline is no longer accurate.

I identified whether my program or plan runs beyond the four-year admission maximumThe rule does not require a PhD to finish in four years, but a longer program can require an extension-of-stay filing before the authorized admission period ends.

Tick only if

You know the date that would be four years from the relevant program start or transition point, without treating this tool as the final calculation.
You flagged any expected fifth year, leave, research delay, change of level, or new program for early review.
You are not assuming a SEVIS or I-20 extension alone will replace an extension-of-stay application under the new rule.

I have a specific DSO conversation scheduled before my admission period becomes urgentYour designated school official is the authoritative first point for your SEVIS record, I-20, program dates, and school process.

Tick only if

You know which international-student office contact handles your F-1 record.
You will bring your I-94, current and prior I-20s, passport, visa, funding information, and expected program timeline to the conversation.
You will ask what the school needs before it can support an extension-of-stay request, rather than waiting for a deadline month.

I understand that an extension of stay must be filed on time if I need more authorized admissionUnder the final rule, an F-1 extension-of-stay request goes to USCIS. A late or incomplete plan can create consequences that a normal doctoral delay does not fix.

Tick only if

You know the extension request must reach USCIS on or before the end of the authorized admission period, subject to the official instructions that apply to your case.
You have a calendar reminder well before the relevant date, leaving time for the DSO and document preparation.
You understand that filing during a grace period can have different effects on work authorization and training than filing earlier.

I checked CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, assistantship, and other work consequencesStudy, practical training, and employment can each depend on different approvals. A status filing can affect what may continue while it is pending.

Tick only if

You know whether you currently hold or expect CPT, pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT, or STEM OPT.
You will ask the DSO which filings and endorsements are required for your exact training plan.
You are not relying on a general grace-period rule to keep employment or practical training authorized.

I reviewed travel and reentry before leaving the United StatesA departure and later admission can create a new I-94 record. This can change the date you must track and can interact with a pending extension request.

Tick only if

You will ask the DSO about travel risks before leaving while an extension or related application is pending.
Your passport, visa stamp for reentry if needed, I-20 travel signature, and SEVIS record have been checked for the trip.
You will retrieve and save the new I-94 after every admission to the United States.

I included any F-2 spouse or child in the timeline planF-2 dependents cannot be treated as an afterthought when the principal student's authorized admission needs an extension.

Tick only if

You know whether each dependent's I-94 and I-20 details align with the principal F-1 record.
You will ask whether the dependent must be included in or separately file an extension request.

My immigration records and backup plan are organizedA clean file makes the next conversation faster and reduces avoidable uncertainty if a program date changes.

Tick only if

You have copies of your passport, visa, I-94, current and prior I-20s, SEVIS receipts, USCIS notices, and relevant funding or enrollment records.
You have not made irreversible work, housing, travel, or family decisions based only on a four-year headline or this checker score.

This is a preparation tool, not legal advice, not an eligibility decision, not an approval prediction, and not a guarantee of visa or immigration approval. Always follow the official instructions for your exact nationality, route, and application location.