International students in the United States 🇺🇸 could face a hard stop on how long they can stay under a new Department of Homeland Security proposal that would end the long‑running “duration of status” approach for many student and exchange visitor visas and replace it with set end dates, usually no more than four years.
What the DHS proposal would change
DHS, through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, published the proposal on August 28, 2025, in the Federal Register at 90 FR 42070. The agency said the change would apply to F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I visa holders (such as foreign media representatives), and would shift much of the power to extend stays from schools and sponsors to the federal government. As of December 13, 2025, DHS has not issued a final rule.
For decades, most F-1 and J-1 holders have been admitted for “D/S” (duration of status), meaning their I-94 record does not show a fixed departure date as long as they keep a full course load, follow program rules, and stay in good standing. Colleges, universities, and exchange sponsors say that system matches how real programs work, since many degrees take longer than a neat calendar limit and students often need extra time for research, medical leave, or changes in funding.
Admission period caps and extensions
Under the proposal:
- DHS would grant an admission period tied to the program end date on the student’s Form I-20 or DS-2019, but capped at four years for most students and exchange visitors.
- English language training programs would be capped at 24 months.
- If a student needs more time, the extension would come from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rather than the school’s designated official.
If an extension is required, DHS proposes an application process that includes:
- Filing the main extension form (typically Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) in the United States.
- Submitting biometrics.
- Providing proof of financial support.
- Showing evidence the student has maintained status.
USCIS already uses Form I-539 for many nonimmigrant extension requests; DHS proposes to make that pathway central for students who run up against the new time limits. USCIS posts filing instructions and updates for Form I-539 on its official site at Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
Academic flexibility and progression rules
The draft rule also tightens academic flexibility:
- It would bar F-1 graduate students from changing programs.
- It would require all F-1 students to complete their first academic year at the school that issued the initial I-20 before transferring.
- DHS also proposes “progression requirements” for undergraduates to demonstrate steady movement toward completion.
Supporters of the current system argue that the ability to transfer, switch majors, or move from a master’s track to a doctoral program is a normal part of academic life, not a red flag. Critics warn that these restrictions could impede legitimate academic paths.
Grace period reduction and unlawful presence
A major proposed change is cutting the post‑completion grace period for F-1 students from 60 days to 30 days. That grace period is commonly used to:
- Prepare for departure
- Apply for a change of status
- Start Optional Practical Training (OPT) paperwork
DHS warns that once the grace period ends, unlawful presence would begin to accrue — a finding that can trigger future bars from returning. Immigration lawyers note that unlawful presence rules are unforgiving, and students can fall out of status quickly if paperwork, school records, or travel plans do not line up.
Important: Reducing the grace period to 30 days could significantly shorten the window students use for administrative transitions and risk triggering unlawful presence consequences.
DHS rationale and critic responses
DHS argues fixed end dates would:
- Create consistency across cases
- Improve oversight
- Reduce fraud (including misuse of student status by people not truly studying)
The proposal points to SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) as a tool that could be updated for stronger monitoring. DHS says moving extensions to USCIS, along with biometrics, could make it easier to spot patterns of abuse.
Critics counter that:
- SEVIS already tracks enrollment, and schools can terminate records for noncompliant students.
- The proposal relies on flawed data, according to some higher education groups.
- Tight caps and limits could make the U.S. less competitive for global talent and disrupt academic and professional pipelines.
Stakeholder reactions and public comment
DHS set a comment period that closed on September 29, 2025. The rule drew substantial opposition:
- More than 50 higher education groups filed comments urging DHS to withdraw the plan.
- The American Council on Education said the rule relies on “flawed data” and targets problems that “do not exist,” while limiting transfers and academic options.
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators warned shifting from an open-ended D/S model to a fixed-clock model is a major regulatory change, not a minor clean‑up.
- The Council on Social Work Education cautioned that rigid limits could disrupt professional pipelines (e.g., supervised placements and licensing).
- The American Physical Society noted a strict four years cap could squeeze students in research-heavy programs that often run longer, especially at the doctoral level.
Campus impact and uncertainty
Even without a final rule, the proposal has created uncertainty on campuses that recruit abroad:
- Admissions and international offices report students compare countries based on how predictable their stay will be.
- Parents want to know whether a program can be finished without a sudden immigration deadline.
- Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the largest pressure point would be students in multi-year degrees who hit the cap and must either file an extension or depart, risking disruptions to funding, housing, and research.
Until a final rule takes effect, current F-1 and J-1 processing and stay rules remain in place — including admission for duration of status and the existing 60-day grace period for most F-1 students. Schools advise students not to panic but to keep copies of I-20s, enrollment records, and financial documents in case DHS revives the plan quickly.
Uneven effects and practical concerns
Campus groups highlight that the rule could affect students unevenly:
- A student in a standard bachelor’s program might fit within four years.
- A student needing a reduced course load for a documented medical reason, or who takes longer for a thesis, could run out of time.
- J-1 exchange visitors on research programs could face similar pressure.
Because extensions would go through USCIS, schools fear students could sit in limbo while cases are pending, and some worry a denial could trigger unlawful presence accruals.
Other related DHS actions in 2025
The proposal sits alongside other DHS-related actions in 2025 that affect immigration paperwork:
- A DHS rule effective October 30, 2025, ends the 540-day automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents for most renewals (it exempts STEM OPT for F-1 students and Temporary Protected Status holders).
- A presidential proclamation effective September 21, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee (or an exemption option) for certain H-1B workers abroad, while leaving current H-1B holders in the U.S. and most students untouched.
What’s next
For students and exchange visitors, the immediate question is whether DHS will:
- Keep the core move away from duration of status, or
- Soften the hard caps and academic limits after public pushback.
Procedural facts to note:
- The proposal is on the record in the Federal Register.
- It has not been finalized.
- If finalized, it would rewrite how time is counted for many people who come to study, teach, or report in the United States 🇺🇸.
Keep copies of I-20/DS-2019, enrollment records, and financial documents. These supports are essential if a change or extension is needed and DHS rules shift, so organize them now and store securely.
Key takeaway: Until a final rule is published, current D/S rules and the 60‑day grace period remain in effect. Students should preserve documents (I-20s, enrollment records, financial records) and stay informed through their schools and official USCIS resources.
DHS proposed replacing duration of status with fixed admission periods—generally capped at four years (24 months for English programs)—and moving extensions to USCIS. The draft, published Aug. 28, 2025, would tighten transfer and progression rules, bar some graduate program changes, and reduce the F-1 grace period from 60 to 30 days. The proposal sparked broad opposition from higher education groups and remains unpublished as a final rule.
