DHS Proposal Sets Fixed Admission Periods for F/J/I Nonimmigrants

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed ending “duration of status” for F, J, and I nonimmigrants and replacing it with a fixed time period of admission tied to program or assignment dates. Under the proposal, formal extensions of stay would be required through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The proposed rule, published on August 28, 2025, would admit academic students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives for set periods, require new biometrics for each extension, and shorten grace periods after program completion. Public comments are open until September 29, 2025, before any final rulemaking and implementation.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the plan marks a sharp shift from a flexible, status-based system to a deadline-driven approach for people in the United States 🇺🇸 on these visa categories.

Key changes proposed

• End duration of status for F, J, and I categories and implement fixed admission periods tied to program or assignment dates.
• Require formal extensions through USCIS (Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) rather than school or sponsor approvals.
• Require biometrics for each extension and proof of continued eligibility.
• Shorten post-completion grace periods, and eliminate a grace period if an extension is denied.
• Place limits on program changes and transfers, especially for graduate F-1 students and undergraduates.

Admission periods and grace periods

• F and J nonimmigrants: Admitted only until the program end date on the Form I-20 or DS-2019, with a cap of four years on the initial stay.
  • After finishing the program, they would receive a 30-day grace period (half the time currently allowed).
• I visa holders (foreign media): Admitted for up to 240 days, tied to the duration of their temporary assignment, with extensions not exceeding that assignment.

DHS states these changes would improve oversight, standardize admission periods, and support national security by ending open-ended stays under duration of status.

Extension process (USCIS filings)

The proposed rule would shift extensions from school/sponsor approvals to federal filings:

1. File Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, with USCIS before the current authorized stay expires.
2. Include biometrics and documentation proving continued eligibility:
   • Proof of financial support
   • Evidence of maintaining status (transcripts, attendance records, etc.)
   • Confirmation of academic or exchange progress
3. USCIS must approve the extension before the current stay expires; otherwise, the individual must depart.
4. No grace period if an extension is denied — immediate departure required.

DHS emphasizes on-time filing and complete documentation. Biometrics scheduling may add travel, time, and expense.

Restrictions on program changes and transfers

• Graduate F-1 students: New limits on changing programs or schools.
• Undergraduates: Expected to complete one academic year at the initial institution before transferring and to avoid repeated program changes.

DHS argues these measures will reduce abuse and ensure participants pursue the program or exchange activity listed, rather than serial changes that extend stays.

Practical impacts and examples

The change would affect campuses, sponsors, and newsrooms immediately if finalized:

• International student offices would need to guide students through USCIS steps that schools do not control.
• Sponsors running J-1 programs would shift from sponsor-level reauthorizations to federal filings.
• I visa journalists on extended assignments might need multiple filings as coverage evolves.
• University legal teams expect longer timelines for routine matters (thesis extensions, academic leave, switching from a master’s to a Ph.D.).

Everyday examples:
– A senior needing one extra semester must file an extension and wait for USCIS approval; the school cannot simply extend the I‑20 beyond four years.
– A Ph.D. student whose research runs long may need multiple extensions, each with biometrics and proof.
– A J‑1 scholar with a grant renewal would require a USCIS-filed extension rather than a sponsor update.
– An I visa photographer with an extended assignment would file for added time, but approval cannot exceed the assignment length.

Consequences for families and planning

• The shorter 30-day grace period could force faster moves, sudden travel, and tighter timelines for Optional Practical Training (OPT), transfers, or re-enrollment.
• Advising calendars and filing windows would need reworking, since filing date and outcome would determine whether a student can remain in the country.
• There is heightened risk if USCIS backlogs cause authorization gaps—especially because denied extensions carry no grace period.

Advisers recommend:
– Plan early and keep strong records (transcripts, attendance, funding letters).
– Build time buffers for biometrics and processing delays.
– Consider earlier program end dates to allow safer filing windows, while noting this could complicate capstone projects or clinical rotations.

Important: Under the proposed system, if an extension request is denied, there is no grace period — the person must depart the U.S. immediately.

Administrative and compliance burdens

DHS acknowledges higher compliance costs for schools and sponsors and more filings by nonimmigrants, but contends the benefits outweigh the burdens. Expected institutional changes include:

• More staff training and checklists
• Earlier reminders and closer tracking of end dates
• Increased workload for university international offices and sponsor organizations

Some higher education leaders warn about enrollment impacts:
– Long-program institutions and those supporting language or research extensions could struggle.
– Flexible exchange programs (e.g., research fellowships) may find it harder to host participants needing unpredictable extensions.
– Media organizations say news coverage often exceeds planned timelines, complicating the 240-day limit and repeated filings.

Rulemaking timeline and how to comment

• Comment window open until September 29, 2025.
• After comments close, DHS will review feedback, draft a final rule, and send it to the Office of Management and Budget for review.
• If cleared, the final rule will be published in the Federal Register with an effective date.
• Until then, the current duration of status framework remains in place.

The proposed text and instructions for submitting comments are available in the Federal Register notice.

Guidance for current nonimmigrants and sponsors

• The proposed rule does not change today’s rules while it is still a proposal, but it signals how planning could shift if finalized.
• Students considering program changes should ask their schools about new limits on graduate switches and the first‑year transfer expectation for undergraduates.
• Exchange visitors should review sponsor policies in case federal filings replace sponsor approvals.
• Media professionals should plan assignment timelines to fit the initial admission period and keep backup filing plans if stories run longer.

To file an extension under the proposal, nonimmigrants would use:
– Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status — available on USCIS at Form I-539.

DHS recommends on-time filing and full documentation showing:
– Status was maintained
– Financial capacity to continue
– Meeting program or assignment goals
Schools and sponsors would likely provide supporting letters; biometrics appointments would be required.

Stakeholder feedback and likely requests

Officials from universities, sponsors, and media outlets are expected to submit comments on:
– Cost, workload, and timing
– Impact on recruitment and staffing
– Requests for longer initial admission periods for doctoral study or multi-year exchanges
– Calls for clearer rules on program transfers and exceptions for medical or academic delays

DHS will weigh these requests before issuing any final rule.

Bottom line

The center of gravity of the proposal is a shift from duration of status to fixed time periods, putting the clock at the heart of status management for F, J, and I categories. For many, that means earlier planning, more paperwork, and closer attention to filing dates. For DHS, it means more direct oversight of every added period through formal extensions. What happens after September 29, 2025 will determine whether this proposal becomes the new playbook for international education, cultural exchange, and foreign media work in the U.S.