DHS Proposes Ending Duration of Status for F and J Visa Holders

(UNITED STATES) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is moving ahead with a plan to end “Duration of Status” for international students and exchange visitors, shifting F, J, and I categories to fixed admission periods that would require formal extensions to stay beyond the initial term. As of August 12, 2025, the policy is still a proposal, not yet final, and the current Duration of Status framework remains in place for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, I media representatives, and their dependents.

DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent the draft rule to the Office of Management and Budget on June 27, 2025, where it remains under review. Until the rule is finalized and published, there is no immediate action required from visa holders.

Policy Changes Overview

Under the proposal, F, J, and I visitors would receive a fixed period of authorized stay—generally up to four years, and two years for nationals of certain countries or in cases tied to institutional accreditation or E-Verify participation.

To remain beyond that period, individuals would need to file a timely extension request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before the end date on their admission record. Failing to have an approved extension in place before the period runs out could lead to the accrual of unlawful presence and exposure to 3-year or 10-year reentry bars, a sharper penalty than under today’s open-ended Duration of Status system.

The Duration of Status model has guided student and exchange admissions for decades—since 1991 for F students and 1993 for J exchange visitors—allowing people to stay as long as they kept full-time enrollment or authorized program participation, remained in good SEVIS standing, and avoided unauthorized work.

A similar move to end Duration of Status surfaced in September 2020 under President Trump, but it was withdrawn in 2021 by President Biden after strong pushback from campuses and advocacy groups. The 2025 proposal mirrors many features of the 2020 effort while reflecting current regulatory priorities, and it expressly includes the F, J, and I visa categories.

If finalized, the change would ripple through student life and campus operations. A doctoral student on a five- or six-year timeline, for example, could face a hard stop at year four unless USCIS approves an extension in time. That adds cost and uncertainty for students and university international offices and raises the stakes for missing deadlines.

It also touches work authorization patterns, since Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT would no longer continue automatically past a program’s end date under Duration of Status; instead, students would likely need an approved extension of stay for any period that exceeds their initial admission.

Universities and designated school officials (DSOs) will need to track more dates and send more reminders. One missed extension filing could turn a technical lapse into a serious legal problem. Recent DHS enforcement posture underscores that risk: the revocation of SEVP certification for Harvard University in May 2025 signaled sharper oversight of school compliance and program integrity.

Impact on Students and Exchange Visitors

For now, the message is steady: the proposal is under review, and Duration of Status remains active. Students and exchange visitors should continue to:

• Study or participate full time
• Maintain SEVIS records
• Avoid unauthorized employment

If the rule takes effect, the daily reality would change in several ways:

• Admissions would come with a clear end date (for example, in two or four years).
• Timely USCIS extensions would be required to avoid falling out of status.
• OPT, STEM OPT, and academic timelines would have to align with fixed admission periods.
• Transfers, changes of status, and moves to work visas (such as H-1B) could involve more steps and earlier planning.

Proposed Process (if finalized)

Under DHS’s proposed framework, the process would look like this:

1. Admission for F, J, or I includes a fixed authorized stay (often up to four years, or two years in specified cases).
2. The visa holder tracks the exact expiration date on the I-94/admission record.
3. Before that date, they file an extension of stay request with USCIS to keep lawful presence.
4. USCIS reviews and either approves or denies; an approval is required to remain beyond the end date.
5. Overstaying without approval could lead to unlawful presence and 3-year or 10-year reentry bars.

Context: Other Concurrent Policy Shifts

The proposal lands amid other policy shifts affecting students and exchange visitors:

• The Department of State began expanded screening and vetting for nonimmigrant visa applicants, including F-1 and J-1, as of June 18, 2025.
• A Presidential Proclamation on June 9, 2025 partially suspended visa issuance for nationals of certain countries applying for F, M, and J categories, with limited exceptions.
• USCIS started weighing social media activity when deciding immigration benefits earlier this year.

Together, these steps mean more review and more documentation across the student journey.

Stakeholder Perspectives

Educational groups, including long-time advocates like NAFSA, warn that ending Duration of Status could:

• Push more students into status problems over paperwork timing rather than misconduct
• Add heavy case volume to USCIS and DSOs

DHS and ICE argue that fixed terms paired with extension checks would:

• Tighten program oversight
• Better align admissions with national security, fraud prevention, and institutional quality metrics (including school accreditation and E-Verify participation)

Families and employers will feel the effects as well. Dependents of F, J, and I principals would be tied to the same fixed windows. Employers planning for new graduates on OPT—or for cap-gap coverage during an H-1B change of status—may need to budget for earlier filings and allow more time for adjudications.

The change rewards proactive planning: early calendars, shared reminders, and strong coordination between students, DSOs, and employers.

Next Steps and Timeline

A formal timeline has not been released. If OMB clears the draft, DHS would:

1. Publish the text in the Federal Register
2. Open a public comment period
3. Issue final guidance before any start date

DHS and USCIS are expected to provide detailed filing instructions, while SEVP will inform schools about recordkeeping, reporting, and enrollment rules that interact with fixed admission periods.

Students and exchange visitors can review extension principles on the official USCIS page for staying longer in the United States: https://www.uscis.gov/visit-united-states/extend-your-stay. That page explains how to apply to extend a nonimmigrant stay and stresses the need to file before your current authorized stay ends.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, campuses and international students are already preparing for a shift from open-ended Duration of Status to fixed-period admissions that rely on USCIS extensions and closer deadline management.

Practical Advice and Key Takeaways

• Keep records current and maintain contact with your DSO or program sponsor.
• Map key dates for program end, OPT, or transfers—and set early reminders.
• If DHS finalizes the rule, the new system will reward those who document early and file early—well before any end date appears on an admission record formerly tied to Duration of Status.

Important: Until a final rule is published, Duration of Status remains in effect and there is no immediate action required beyond normal compliance with program requirements.