The United States has finalised one of the most consequential changes to its international student visa system in decades, confirming that it will end the long-standing "duration of status" (D/S) policy for international students and exchange visitors.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the public inspection copy of the final rule on 16 July, with the regulation scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 17 July. The new rules will take effect on 15 September 2026.
The announcement follows developments first reported by The Educationist in May, when the proposal entered its final stage of review after being submitted to the Office of Management and Budget. With the publication of the final rule, the Trump administration has completed a policy change that has generated widespread concern across the international education sector.
Fixed periods replace duration of status
For nearly five decades, most F-1 students have been admitted to the United States under the duration of status system, allowing them to remain in the country for as long as they maintained their student status and made normal academic progress.
Under the new regulations, students will instead be admitted for fixed periods. In most cases, the authorised stay will be limited to the length of their academic programme, up to a maximum of four years.
Students who require more time than their authorised period of admission—including many doctoral and medical students, undergraduate students who do not complete their degrees within four years, and graduates undertaking Optional Practical Training (OPT)—will generally be required to apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an Extension of Stay.
The rule also places additional restrictions on academic progression. Students seeking to change majors, transfer to another programme, or pursue further study may face additional immigration requirements that were previously managed by educational institutions under the duration of status framework.
The policy extends beyond F-1 students. J-1 exchange visitors, including many international researchers, and I visa holders for foreign media will also be subject to fixed periods of admission.
Administration cites immigration oversight
The Trump administration has defended the rule as a measure to strengthen immigration oversight and national security.
According to DHS, replacing open-ended admissions with fixed periods will improve monitoring of non-immigrant visa holders and reduce opportunities for immigration abuse through periodic review of immigration status.
Universities warn of increased bureaucracy
The higher education community has responded with strong criticism, arguing that the policy creates significant administrative burdens while offering little additional security benefit.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators described the rule as a "misguided and unnecessary policy shift" that injects uncertainty, bureaucracy and fear into a system that has long functioned effectively.
Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA, argued that international students are already among the most closely monitored non-immigrant populations in the United States through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and existing institutional reporting requirements.
She warned that the rule transfers important academic decisions from universities to immigration authorities.
"This rule introduces unnecessary government intrusion into academic decision-making," Aw said. "Requiring students and scholars to seek approval to extend their academic programme, change majors, or pursue the next level of study places life-changing educational decisions in the hands of an already overburdened immigration system—not educators, and not institutions."
NAFSA also criticised DHS for proceeding with the regulation despite receiving more than 20,000 public comments raising concerns about its potential impact.
The association argued that the new policy sends "exactly the wrong message" at a time when countries are competing more aggressively for international talent. It warned that additional immigration uncertainty could undermine U.S. innovation, economic growth, research capacity and global competitiveness.
NAFSA said it would "vigorously explore every available avenue" to challenge what it described as a "harmful and shortsighted rule."
Administrative burden expected to rise
Higher education institutions are expected to face increased compliance responsibilities once the rule takes effect.
Universities will need to advise students on extension applications, monitor additional immigration deadlines and help students navigate more complex visa requirements. Immigration experts have also questioned whether U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has sufficient capacity to process what could become a significant increase in Extension of Stay applications.
Students admitted before 15 September 2026 will not immediately be affected. However, those who need to remain in the United States beyond their authorised admission period will eventually be required to apply for an extension under the new system.
A significant shift for international education
The final rule represents one of the most significant immigration policy changes affecting international education in recent decades.
For almost 50 years, universities have largely determined whether international students were making satisfactory academic progress under the duration of status framework. The new policy shifts greater authority to federal immigration officials by requiring many students to seek government approval to continue their studies beyond their authorised period of admission.
Whether the rule achieves its stated national security objectives or instead makes the United States a less attractive destination for international students will become clearer after the regulations take effect in September. What is already evident is that the policy marks a fundamental shift in how the United States manages international student mobility.
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