Proposed Rule to Eliminate Duration of Status for F Students and J Exchange Visitors
Sep 15, 2025
On Aug.28, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a rule to end duration of status (D/S) for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and their dependents.
Since the early 1990s, F and J nonimmigrants have been admitted for the duration of their status. D/S allows them to remain in the U.S. for the time required to complete their program or objective. F and J program extensions are currently authorized by Designated School Officials or Responsible Officers only for “compelling academic or medical reasons.” To be eligible for consideration of an extension, F and J visa holders must have continuously met all requirements to maintain their legal status.
The new rule proposes that Fs and Js would be admitted for a fixed date and would be allowed a maximum of 4 years to complete their programs. English language program students would have a maximum of 2 years. If Fs or Js need additional time to complete their program or objective, they would have to submit a timely application, and receive approval from, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with a sizeable fee. School transfers, changing academic levels (undergraduate to graduate), and post-completion training (Optional Practical Training for Fs and Academic Training for Js) would require application to, and approval from, USCIS.
The proposed rule includes other noteworthy changes if it goes into effect:
F-1 students could not enroll in a program at the same or a lower level (e.g., bachelor’s degree to associates degree) as a program if they have already completed a degree at that level.
Students below the graduate level could not transfer schools during their first academic year.
Graduate students could not change programs or transfer schools.
Students could not pursue more than one program at the same education level (e.g. a student cannot complete a master’s degree and subsequently pursue another master’s degree).
The grace period before someone must leave the country following the end date of an F program would be reduced from 60 to 30 days. The grace period for Js is already 30 days.
DHS claims that the changes are necessary because a high number of international students overstay their status and the large volume of F academic students and J exchange visitors limits its monitoring capacity, reduces opportunities for immigration officers to verify compliance with authorized activities, undermines enforcement of inadmissibility grounds, and creates opportunities for fraud and abuse.
A more detailed explanation of the proposed rule is available from NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
There is a 30-day comment period, which ends on September 29, 2025, after which DHS will consider comments, possibly make changes to the proposed rule, and publish a final rule with an effective date.
ISSS will monitor the process and timeline carefully and provide updates to the campus community. We encourage all students and scholars to frequently review the ISSS Immigration Updateswebpage to stay alert to potential policy changes.
