Duration of Status: 

In certain visa categories such as diplomats, students, and exchange visitors, the alien may be admitted into the U.S. for as long as they are still doing the activity for which the visa was issued, rather than being admitted until a specific departure date.  This is called admission for “duration of status”.  For students, the time during which a student is in a full course of study plus practical training, and following that, authorized time to depart the country, is duration of status.  The length of time depends upon the course of study.  For an undergraduate degree this is commonly four years (eight semesters).  Normally the immigration officer gives a student permission to stay in the U.S. for “duration of status”.

Duration of Status (or D/S) is recorded on Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record.  The Department of Homeland Security U.S. immigration inspector at port-of-entry gives foreign visitors (all non-U.S. citizens) an Arrival-Departure, (small white card) when they enter the United States.  Recorded on this card are the immigrant classification and the authorized period of stay in the U.S.  This is either recorded as a date or the entry or D/S, meaning duration of status.  The I-94 is a very important card to keep, because it shows the length of time you are permitted and authorized by the DHS to stay in the U.S.