Students will need federal permission to stay longer than four years in the US and universities will lose the power to extend visas
- actingschool6
- Aug 7
- 12 min read
Updated: Aug 24
#F1Visa #J1Visa #DurationOfStatus #ImmigrationNews #InternationalStudents #J1Physicians #USCIS #DHSFinalRule #OPT #SEVIS
Students Will Need Federal Permission to Stay Longer Than Four Years in the U.S. as Universities Lose Authority to Extend Student Status
Transfer Your F-1 Status Before September 15, 2026 and Study Acting in Los Angeles for Up to Three Years
F-1 international students currently studying in the United States may be eligible to transfer their active SEVIS records to the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory before September 15, 2026.
Students who are accepted into an eligible program at our acting school in Los Angeles may pursue professional acting studies for up to three years, provided they maintain valid F-1 status, enroll in a full course of study, make satisfactory academic progress, and comply with all applicable immigration requirements.
Students commonly refer to this process as “transferring an F-1 visa.” Technically, however, the student transfers their SEVIS record from one SEVP-certified school to another. ICE confirms that eligible F-1 students may transfer between SEVP-certified institutions.
Because an F-1 transfer requires admission to the new school and coordination between the student’s current and future institutions, students interested in transferring should begin the process well before September 15, 2026.
Contact International Admissions
Los Angeles Acting Conservatory
10820 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Phone and WhatsApp: +1 (310) 392-0815
What Is Changing for International Students?
A new Department of Homeland Security rule replaces the traditional Duration of Status system for F international students and J exchange visitors with fixed periods of admission.
Under the former system, many F-1 students were admitted to the United States for Duration of Status, generally shown as “D/S” on Form I-94.
Duration of Status allowed qualifying international students to remain in the United States while they continued to:
Pursue an approved full course of study
Make normal progress toward completing their programs
Maintain active SEVIS records
Follow F-1 employment restrictions
Participate only in authorized practical training
Comply with all other conditions of F-1 status
Under the fixed-admission system, students may instead receive a specific expiration date on Form I-94. If additional time is needed beyond that authorized period, the student may have to request an Extension of Stay from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Will International Students Be Limited to Four Years?
For many F and J nonimmigrants, the new admission period may be limited to the length of the approved academic or exchange program, subject to a general maximum of four years.
However, four years should not be interpreted as an automatic period granted to every international student.
The actual authorized period may depend on:
The length of the academic program
The dates listed on Form I-20
The student’s passport validity
The visa classification
The expiration date recorded on Form I-94
The student’s immigration history
The determination made at the port of entry
Other applicable federal restrictions
A student enrolled in a one-, two-, or three-year program may receive an admission period connected to that program rather than automatically receiving four full years.
Why Is September 15, 2026 Important?
September 15, 2026 is the reported effective date for the fixed-period admission system.
This date is particularly important for students who are considering:
Transferring to another school
Starting a new academic program
Changing educational levels
Traveling internationally
Extending a program
Applying for practical training
Remaining beyond the date on Form I-94
Students interested in transferring to the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory should begin the admissions process early enough to receive acceptance and coordinate the SEVIS transfer with their current school.
Can I Transfer My F-1 Status Before September 15, 2026?
Eligible F-1 students may transfer between SEVP-certified schools after being accepted by the new institution and completing the required transfer procedures.
To transfer to the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory, a student will generally need to:
Apply to the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory.
Meet the school’s admissions requirements.
Receive an official acceptance.
Submit passport and immigration documents.
Provide evidence of sufficient financial support.
Contact the DSO at the current school.
Select an appropriate SEVIS transfer-release date.
Receive an updated Form I-20 from the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory.
Enroll in the required full course of study.
The exact procedure may depend on the student’s SEVIS status, program dates, travel plans, employment authorization, and immigration history.
Why Should Students Begin the Transfer Process Early?
A SEVIS transfer normally cannot be completed until the student has been accepted by the transfer-in school.
Beginning early gives the student and both institutions enough time to:
Review the admissions application
Confirm program eligibility
Verify immigration documents
Review financial evidence
Coordinate the SEVIS release
Issue the transfer-pending Form I-20
Prepare for the new program start date
Students who wait until September 15, 2026 may face complications involving admissions deadlines, international travel, employment, or the release of their SEVIS records.
Can Accepted Students Study in the United States for Up to Three Years?
Students accepted into an eligible Los Angeles Acting Conservatory program may pursue professional acting studies lasting up to three years.
A student must continue to satisfy all F-1 requirements throughout the program, including:
Maintaining valid F-1 status
Enrolling in a full course of study
Attending the school listed in SEVIS
Making satisfactory academic progress
Complying with attendance policies
Avoiding unauthorized employment
Keeping immigration documents valid
Following DHS, USCIS, SEVP, and school requirements
Acceptance into the school does not independently guarantee permission to remain in the United States for three years. The student’s lawful stay depends on maintaining F-1 status and remaining within the authorized period shown on Form I-94 and other immigration records.
Are Universities Really Losing the Power to Extend Visas?
The phrase “universities will lose the power to extend visas” is not technically precise.
A school does not issue or extend a visa. U.S. visas are issued by American embassies and consulates and are primarily used to request admission at a U.S. port of entry.
Under the previous Duration of Status system, a Designated School Official could update the program end date in SEVIS and issue an updated Form I-20 when an eligible student needed additional time to complete an academic program.
Under a fixed-admission system, updating Form I-20 or SEVIS may not, by itself, extend the student’s authorized stay beyond the expiration date on Form I-94.
A student who needs more time may also have to submit a formal Extension of Stay request to USCIS.
Therefore, a more accurate statement is:
Schools may continue to update qualifying academic and SEVIS records, but they may no longer be able to extend a student’s authorized stay without separate federal approval.
What Is the Difference Between Form I-20, Form I-94, and an F-1 Visa?
These documents serve different purposes.
F-1 Visa
The F-1 visa is generally issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate. It allows a student to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request admission in F-1 status.
Form I-20
Form I-20 is issued by an SEVP-certified school. It identifies the student, school, program, financial information, and program dates.
Form I-94
Form I-94 is the official arrival and departure record. It shows the student’s immigration classification and authorized admission period.
Under the new fixed-period system, the expiration date on Form I-94 may become especially important.
Students should not assume that extending a program end date on Form I-20 automatically changes the authorized expiration date on Form I-94.
What Happens When a Student Needs More Than Four Years?
Students who cannot complete their programs within their authorized admission periods may need to apply to USCIS for an Extension of Stay.
Depending on the applicable rules and individual circumstances, the student may need to provide:
A completed USCIS application
An updated Form I-20
Evidence of continued enrollment
Academic transcripts
Proof of satisfactory progress
Financial documentation
An explanation of why additional time is required
Government filing fees
Additional supporting evidence
Biometrics, when required
USCIS, rather than the school alone, may determine whether the student is permitted to remain beyond the fixed admission period.
Students should begin preparing well before the expiration date on Form I-94.
Can Students Remain in the United States While an Extension Is Pending?
Whether a student may remain in the United States while an application is pending can depend on:
Whether the application was filed on time
Whether the student was maintaining valid status
The type of application submitted
The student’s Form I-94 expiration date
USCIS rules in effect at the time
The individual facts of the case
Students should not assume that filing an application automatically provides employment authorization, travel permission, or approval to continue every activity.
A DSO or qualified immigration attorney should review individual cases.
How Will the Rule Affect F-1 School Transfers?
The new system makes it especially important to coordinate:
The current program end date
The new program start date
The SEVIS transfer-release date
The student’s Form I-94 expiration date
International travel plans
Employment authorization
The transfer-release date determines when control of the SEVIS record moves from the current school to the transfer-in school.
F-1 students transferring to a new institution must also report to the transfer-in DSO within the applicable period after the program start date. ICE guidance states that transferring students must report to the new DSO no later than 15 days after the program start date.
Can a School Transfer Affect Employment?
Yes. A transfer may affect employment connected to the student’s previous school.
ICE guidance states that an eligible student may generally work at the transfer-out school only until the SEVIS transfer-release date, not afterward.
Students should speak with their DSO before transferring if they are participating in:
On-campus employment
Curricular Practical Training
Optional Practical Training
Another form of employment authorization
Students must not continue working unless their employment remains properly authorized.
Does the New Rule Affect Optional Practical Training?
Optional Practical Training may remain available to qualifying F-1 students. However, the fixed-admission system may make advance planning more important.
Students should monitor:
The academic program end date
The OPT application window
The requested OPT dates
The OPT recommendation on Form I-20
The Employment Authorization Document
The expiration date on Form I-94
Any required Extension of Stay filing
A school transfer may also affect CPT or OPT authorization connected to the previous institution.
How Will the Rule Affect J-1 Exchange Visitors?
J-1 exchange visitors may also receive fixed periods of admission instead of Duration of Status.
J-1 categories may include:
Professors
Research scholars
Physicians
Interns
Trainees
Specialists
Government visitors
Other exchange-program participants
J-1 visitors generally coordinate with their designated program sponsors rather than an F-1 school DSO.
SEVIS tracks and monitors F and M students, J exchange visitors, and their dependents during approved participation in the United States.
What Should F-1 Students Do Before September 15, 2026?
Review Form I-20
Confirm that your school, program, educational level, financial information, and program dates are accurate.
Review Form I-94
Check whether your record shows Duration of Status or a specific expiration date.
Speak With Your DSO
Ask how the new rules may affect your transfer, travel, program extension, employment, or practical training.
Apply to the Transfer-In School Early
You must generally receive acceptance before your SEVIS record can be transferred.
Monitor All Important Dates
Keep track of:
Program start and end dates
SEVIS transfer-release dates
Form I-94 expiration dates
Passport expiration
Visa expiration
Practical-training deadlines
Extension filing deadlines
Keep Copies of Immigration Records
Maintain copies of:
Every Form I-20
Passport identification page
F-1 visa
Form I-94
Acceptance letters
Academic transcripts
Financial evidence
Employment authorization documents
Communications with school officials
Why Transfer to the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory?
The Los Angeles Acting Conservatory offers structured professional acting education for eligible international students who want to study in Los Angeles.
Students may receive training in:
Acting for Film and Television
Scene Study
Meisner Technique
Strasberg Method
Stella Adler Technique
Stanislavski Technique
Uta Hagen Technique
Improvisation
Voice and Speech
Movement
On-Camera Audition Technique
Cold Reading
Business of Acting
Professional Career Development
Our programs are designed for serious international actors who want to strengthen their craft and prepare for professional opportunities in film, television, theater, and digital entertainment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will students need federal permission to remain longer than four years?
Students who need to remain beyond the expiration date on Form I-94 may be required to apply to USCIS for an Extension of Stay.
Can a university extend an F-1 visa?
No. Universities do not issue or extend visas. A DSO may update qualifying program information in SEVIS and issue an updated Form I-20, but separate USCIS approval may be required to remain beyond a fixed admission date.
Can I transfer my F-1 status before September 15, 2026?
Eligible F-1 students may transfer their SEVIS records after receiving acceptance from another SEVP-certified school and completing the required process.
Can I transfer to the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory?
Students who satisfy our admissions requirements and remain eligible for an F-1 transfer may apply to transfer their active SEVIS records to the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory.
Can accepted students study for up to three years?
Students accepted into an eligible program may study for up to three years, provided they maintain valid F-1 status and comply with all academic and immigration requirements.
Does acceptance guarantee that I can remain for three years?
No. Acceptance permits an eligible student to begin enrollment and Form I-20 processing. Continued lawful stay depends on properly maintaining F-1 status and remaining within the authorized admission period.
Apply to Transfer Before September 15, 2026
International students who want to continue their acting education in Los Angeles should begin the admissions and SEVIS transfer process now.
Accepted and eligible students may transfer their active SEVIS records to the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory and pursue an eligible acting program lasting up to three years while properly maintaining F-1 status.
Contact the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory
Los Angeles Acting Conservatory
10820 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Phone and WhatsApp: +1 (310) 392-0815
Contact our International Admissions Team for information about:
F-1 school transfers
International admissions
Form I-20 requirements
Acting programs in Los Angeles
SEVIS transfer procedures
Studying acting in Hollywood
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