IMPORTANT UPDATE: Court Postpones Effective Date of New F-1 Rule

September 14, 2026

CCA International Student Services (ISS) is sharing an important update regarding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule that was scheduled to change the administration of F-1 student status beginning September 15, 2026.

Federal Court Grants Relief

On September 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued an order granting, in part, the plaintiffs’ request for relief.

The Court has:

• Postponed the effective date of the DHS final rule; and
• Preliminarily enjoined DHS and ICE from taking further action to implement the rule pending further order of the Court or resolution of the case on the merits.

Therefore, the new final rule does not take effect on September 15, 2026, as previously scheduled.

The Court's order is available through the public court record.

What This Means for CCA F-1 Students

No immediate action is required from students based solely on today's court order.

For now, continue to follow your current F-1 requirements and the information reflected on your current Form I-20. Do not make changes to your immigration plans based on unofficial information or speculation.

The litigation is ongoing. Today's order postpones implementation of the rule but does not represent a final decision on whether the rule is lawful or whether it will ultimately be vacated.

What ISS Is Doing

CCA ISS is closely monitoring:

• Further orders from the federal court
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) / Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) communications
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) information

As federal agencies respond to the Court's order and provide additional operational guidance, ISS will review that information and update students as appropriate.

Please continue to check the ISS portal and your CCA email regularly for updates.

If you have questions about your individual F-1 status or immigration circumstances, please contact ISS before taking action based on information related to the now-postponed rule.

Posted July 2026 (now out of date, see above)

Historical context:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a final rule that will replace the long-standing "Duration of Status (D/S)" admission framework for F-1 students with a system based on fixed periods of admission. The rule is scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026.

This change will impact all F-1 students in the United States, including current CCA students and alumni maintaining F-1 status through approved Optional Practical Training (OPT) or the STEM OPT Extension.

CCA International Student Services (ISS) is carefully reviewing the final rule and monitoring implementation guidance from DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Additional federal guidance is expected regarding how these changes will apply to students and alumni who are already in the United States.

At this time, no immediate action is required solely because of this announcement. Please continue to maintain your F-1 status by following all current immigration requirements, including reporting requirements for students participating in OPT or STEM OPT.

ISS will continue to update this page as additional information becomes available. We will also notify students and alumni by email if any action is required or if new guidance is issued by the federal government.

Last Updated: September 14, 2026