Three Key F-1 Visa Policy Changes You Must Know Now

(UNITED STATES) A new presidential proclamation and a pending Department of Homeland Security rule are reshaping the choices facing international students on the F-1 visa. Starting in late 2025, many graduates aiming for H-1B status from abroad could face a US$100,000 H-1B fee, while students who keep valid status and file a change of status inside the United States may be exempt. At the same time, a proposal to set a fixed four-year limit on F-1 admission would end the long-standing “duration of status” approach and require extensions through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Together, these shifts affect academic timelines, work plans during OPT/STEM-OPT, and the cost of moving to employment status after graduation.

Key changes at a glance

• US$100,000 supplemental fee for H-1B petitions filed from outside the United States after late September 2025.
• Exemption from that fee for students who remain in the United States, keep valid F-1 status, and file a change of status (usually while on OPT/STEM-OPT).
• DHS proposal to replace “duration of status (D/S)” with a fixed four-year F-1 admission, requiring extensions through USCIS. Public comment open through September 29, 2025.

Details on the H-1B fee and who it affects

Under the proclamation effective in September 2025, applicants for the H-1B visa who are outside the country could face the US$100,000 supplemental fee when filing after that time. The measure is framed as applying to H-1B petitions filed abroad — a route many F-1 graduates have used when returning home or moving to a third country while waiting for consular processing.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the added cost could alter post-graduation plans for students who expected to leave the United States and complete H-1B processing at a consulate.

Important exemption and its limits

• Major exception: students who remain in the United States and keep valid F-1 status through OPT/STEM-OPT while changing status to H-1B are exempt from the US$100,000 fee.
• Conditions for the exemption:
  • Employer files a change of status (usually via employer-filed Form I-129).
  • Student stays in the U.S. during adjudication and does not travel abroad or fall out of F-1 status before filing.
• Loss of benefit scenarios:
  • Leaving the U.S. during a pending change-of-status converts the case to consular processing and may trigger the fee.
  • Filing from abroad or after losing F-1 status reintroduces the fee risk.

Practical summary: Stay in status, stay in the U.S., and file change of status — that’s the safer, cheaper track under the announced framework.

Officials have signaled that the fee applies to filings after late September 2025 and does not change currently approved H-1B cases. The shift does not alter statutory H-1B eligibility rules. Employers will still file the nonimmigrant worker petition, USCIS H-1B overview. For official guidance, see the USCIS H-1B overview at https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations and the form at https://www.uscis.gov/i-129.

DHS proposal: four-year F-1 admission period

DHS has proposed replacing the “duration of status” approach for F-1 with a fixed four-year admission period, after which students would need to request an extension from USCIS to continue studies. The proposal is under review and the public comment period is open until September 29, 2025.

Potential implications:

• Students in longer programs (Ph.D., medical trainees, some master’s programs) would need to file for extensions.
• Possible related changes mentioned in the proposal: a shorter post-completion grace period and tighter controls on program changes for graduate students.
• The current D/S method allows students to remain in the U.S. while maintaining valid F-1 status for the duration of their studies; a four-year cap would replace that flexibility with a set review point.

Policy changes overview (concise)

1. H-1B fee for filings abroad
   • US$100,000 supplemental fee for H-1B petitions filed from outside the U.S. after late September 2025 (presidential proclamation dated September 19, 2025).
2. Exemption for in-U.S. change of status
   • Students who maintain valid F-1 status and file change of status while in the U.S. (often during OPT/STEM-OPT) are exempt from the fee, provided they do not travel or lose status before adjudication.
3. Proposed four-year F-1 cap
   • DHS proposes a maximum four-year F-1 admission with extension requests through USCIS. Public comment through September 29, 2025.

Practical steps for students (time-sensitive)

• Maintain active F-1 status
  • Stay enrolled full-time and follow your school’s reporting rules.
  • Work with your DSO to avoid status gaps that could risk the fee if you later switch to H-1B from abroad.
• Use OPT and STEM-OPT wisely
  • Many students rely on post-completion OPT and the 24-month STEM-OPT to bridge to H-1B.
  • Apply for work authorization with Form I-765: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765.
  • Keep reporting current during OPT/STEM-OPT to protect status.
• Consider change of status if employer plans H-1B
  • Filing H-1B as a change of status inside the U.S. may avoid the US$100,000 fee.
  • Employers file Form I-129; if approved as a change of status, you can begin H-1B employment without leaving the country, assuming no travel or status breaks.
• Avoid travel during H-1B adjudication
  • Leaving the U.S. while a change-of-status request is pending can convert the case to consular processing and may trigger the fee.
• Prepare for a potential four-year cap
  • If your degree likely exceeds four years (e.g., Ph.D.), speak with your DSO early and plan for timely extension filings, probably using Form I-539: https://www.uscis.gov/i-539.

Impact by group

• Graduating students abroad or planning to depart before H-1B filing
  • The US$100,000 supplemental fee could be decisive.
  • Options: remain in the U.S. through OPT/STEM-OPT and pursue change of status, or accept consular processing and budget for the fee.
• Families and employers
  • Additional cost may affect hiring budgets and start dates for early-career hires.
• Schools and international student offices
  • Need to update advising materials and counsel students on travel risks during pending H-1B cases and planning for extensions.
• Employers and HR teams
  • May prefer filing H-1B change of status for workers already in the U.S.
  • Standard steps (LCA, Form I-129, selection) remain, but the cost incentive favors in-country adjudication.

Timing and planning — why this matters

Students deciding between returning home after graduation and staying for OPT/STEM-OPT now face a clearer cost tradeoff. The choice affects career exposure, family reasons, and — crucially — whether an H-1B is filed inside the U.S. or abroad.

A doctoral student starting in 2026 might face an extension decision in 2030 under a four-year cap. That introduces a paperwork step and decision point but can be managed with early planning.

For official guidance on student responsibilities and work options, USCIS maintains pages on F-1 employment, OPT, and H-1B. The H-1B overview linked earlier is a starting point; key forms:
– Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization): https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
– Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker): https://www.uscis.gov/i-129
– Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status): https://www.uscis.gov/i-539

Reactions and broader consequences

Advocates for international education warn that higher costs for consular H-1B filings could push talent away from the United States, especially students from modest backgrounds. Supporters argue the fee may steer more graduates to stay in status and complete change of status domestically, preserving the skilled-worker pipeline.

The DHS proposal on the F-1 timeline has drawn mixed reactions:
– Some welcome clearer admission periods.
– Others worry about added filings, administrative burden, and the risk of delays.

What students should do now

1. Do not panic — the fee targets filings abroad after late September 2025, and the four-year F-1 cap is still a proposal.
2. Protect your status — stay enrolled full-time, update SEVIS, and keep records.
3. Talk early — coordinate with your employer and DSO about change-of-status filing and travel plans if H-1B is the goal.
4. Map timelines — if your degree exceeds four years, prepare for extension filings if the rule is finalized.

VisaVerge.com reports many campus offices are updating fall advising materials to reflect these changes, particularly around travel during pending H-1B cases and long programs that may require extensions. Preparation can make a real difference as deadlines approach and options narrow.

Key takeaway: Timing matters. How long you stay enrolled, when you file, and whether you travel can affect both cost and status. Students who plan around the US$100,000 H-1B fee, use OPT/STEM-OPT to maintain status, and prepare for a potential four-year F-1 cap will be better positioned to keep studies and early careers on track in 2026 and beyond.