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4h ago

DHS Proposed Rule Would End ‘Duration of Status’ and Cap Student Stays at Four Years

Universities and international-education groups warn the plan would impose heavy administrative burdens that could depress enrollment.

Donald Trump proposes 90-day limit on visas for Chinese journalists
While on an F-1 visa, students who have finished a program at a particular level are not permitted to enroll in a different one at the same or lower level.
Demonstrators hold signs at a rally at the Sample Gates for international graduate student rights on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) district office in New York City.

Overview

  • The proposal, published Aug. 28, would replace open‑ended admissions for F-1 and J-1 with fixed periods tied to program length, generally not exceeding four years, with extensions to be filed with USCIS.
  • Undergraduate F-1 students would be barred from changing programs or majors in their first year and graduate F-1 students could be prohibited from switching programs, with limited exceptions.
  • The rule would shorten the post-completion grace period for F-1 students from 60 days to 30 days and tie overstays to immediate unlawful presence that can trigger three- or ten-year reentry bars.
  • DHS also proposes caps for I media visas of up to 240 days for most journalists and 90 days for mainland Chinese reporters, with possible extensions.
  • DHS opened a roughly 30-day public comment window through late September, the measure is not final, and implementation may hinge on SEVIS system updates that universities say could add significant processing burdens.