I checked my I-94 and it says D/S. What does D/S mean?

If you are not a U.S. citizen of a Green card holder, you should check your I-94 on this website every time you enter the U.S. The I-94 form governs your lawful stay in the U.S. Please read our blog post on how to fix your I-94 if it contains error when you click here.

What is D/S?

If you are in the U.S. for example on an F-1 student visa, you will be admitted to the U.S. for “duration of status.” When entering the U.S., the CBP officer will stamp your passport and in the “admitted until” section of the stamp it will indicate “D/S”. Additionally, if you check your I-94 online, the form will also indicate that you are admitted for “D/S.”

If you are in the U.S. on an F-1 visa, you may stay as long as you comply with all the terms and conditions of your status (you maintain your non-immigrant F-1 status).

For example, if you are coming to the U.S. to study in law school, your I-20 would allow you to stay for 3 years (the I-20 would specify the program start and end date). You would be allowed to stay in the U.S. for 3 years and this would be the “duration of status.” If you later apply for an OPT, then your duration of status would be extended until your OPT expires. Once your OPT expires, you will have to leave the U.S. in 60 days.

Additionally, if you are in the U.S. working on your OPT and you were selected in the H-1B lottery and the sponsoring company is filing an H-1B petition for you, the duration of status could be extended until September 30 (this is called cap-gap). Please see our blog post on the cap-gap when you click here.