The short answer
The visa is the stamp that lets you ask to enter the U.S. Your status is what you are allowed to do once you are inside, and it is recorded on your I-94. They are different things and can expire at different times.
What to know
- Visa: the entry permission in your passport. It can expire while you stay.
- Status: your permission to study (and work in limited ways) while following the rules.
- Students are usually admitted for “duration of status”, as long as they keep studying and follow the rules.
- Breaking rules, such as unauthorized work or dropping below full time, can end your status even if the visa is valid.
For the exact rules, forms and fees, see Study in the States (for students).
Visa Status is an unofficial site. This is general information in plain words, not legal advice. Rules, fees and forms change, so check the official website and your own papers. Written October 2026.