US Universities Urge International Students to Return Before September 15 as DHS Replaces ‘Duration of Status’ Rule
The rule caps F and J visa stays at four years and shortens the post-study grace period to 30 days, Columbia said.
- The Department of Homeland Security will replace the "duration of status" system with a "fixed time period of admission" on September 15, 2026, prompting Columbia University to advise F-1 and J-1 students to return to New York by September 8.
- Under the new rule, international students will be admitted for their program duration, capped at four years, with those requiring extensions needing to apply to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services using Form I-539.
- The regulation shortens the post-degree grace period from 60 days to 30 days, directly affecting about 300,000 Indian students in the United States, most pursuing Master's degrees in STEM fields.
- Universities including Cornell University and institutions in Pennsylvania have issued similar guidance, updating internal advisories and encouraging students to monitor official updates regarding immigration status and travel requirements.
- Spanning 60 days, the implementation period follows the final rule publication; universities state returning before the transition takes effect helps students avoid uncertainty while immigration offices adjust to new requirements.
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16 Articles
Provost addresses federal immigration policy changes, advises international students
Provost Erik Luijten released a statement Friday addressing changes in federal immigration policy announced by the Department of Homeland Security last week. Expected to take effect Sept. 15, the Trump administration’s final rule establishes a fixed time period for admission to the U.S. rather than the existing “duration of status” rule. The “duration of status”... The post Provost addresses federal immigration policy changes, advises internati…
US Student Visa Rules Explained: Key Changes Every Indian Student Should Know
<p>Thousands of Indian students planning to pursue higher education in the United States will have to closely monitor their immigration status after the US government introduced new rules replacing the decades-old "Duration of Status" (D/S) system with fixed periods of stay for student and exchange visas.</p> <p>Effective September 15, 2026, students entering the US on F-1 visas, along with J-1 exchange visitors and I visa holders for foreign me…
US universities urge international students to return before September 15 as DHS replaces ‘duration of status’ rule
US universities urge international students to return before mid-September. A new Department of Homeland Security rule replaces the duration of status system. This change will admit F and J visa holders for a fixed period. Students needing extensions must apply before their admission period expires. Institutions are updating procedures and advising students to stay informed.
US colleges urge F-1 and J-1 visa holders to return before 15 September as new rules near
The four-year cap on student visas proposed by the US Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism from Khanderao Kand of FIIDS, who warns it may harm education and research. International students are advised to return to the US before September 15 to avoid disruptions.
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