Overview

• Under the draft rule, F-1 and J-1 holders would be admitted for fixed periods up to four years, with stays beyond that requiring USCIS-approved extensions and a reduced 30-day post-completion grace period.
• The plan would bar most undergraduate transfers or major changes in the first academic year and sharply limit graduate students from changing programs, while preventing a return to the same or lower degree level on F-1 status.
• For I-category media visas, DHS proposes initial admissions of up to 240 days with limited extensions, and some reporting describes a 90-day cap specifically for mainland Chinese journalists.
• DHS says fixed terms and added vetting are intended to curb ‘visa abuse,’ following stepped-up screening and State Department data showing more than 6,000 student visas revoked this year.
• Universities and advocacy groups including NAFSA and the Presidents’ Alliance warn the rule could disrupt multi-year degrees, increase costs and processing, and heighten risks of unlawful presence for students who miss tight timelines.