The US administration has announced a major change to its student visa policy by ending the long-standing Duration of Status (D/S) system for certain nonimmigrant visa holders. Under the new rules, international students and exchange visitors will no longer be permitted to remain in the United States indefinitely while maintaining their visa status.
Instead, eligible visa holders will be granted permission to stay only for the duration of their academic programme, subject to a maximum stay of four years.
The changes were introduced through a final rule issued by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which says the new framework is intended to improve transparency, reduce visa misuse, and strengthen national security.
Fixed Stay for F, J and I Visa Holders
The new rule applies to holders of the following nonimmigrant visas:
F visa – International students
J visa – Exchange visitors
I visa – Foreign media representatives
Rather than remaining in the US under the Duration of Status system, these visa holders will now receive a fixed period of authorised stay.
Students Must Apply for Extensions if More Time Is Needed
Students who require additional time to complete their studies will no longer receive an automatic extension.
Instead, they will need to submit an Extension of Stay (EOS) application to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The extension process will include:
Biometric verification
Background checks
Fraud screening
Grace Period Reduced to 30 Days
The new policy also shortens the grace period available after completing studies or changing status.
The previous 60-day grace period has been reduced to 30 days for students who:
Complete their academic programme
Transfer to another institution
Change to a different visa category
The rules governing changes to academic programmes have also been tightened.
DHS Explains the Policy Change
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the previous Duration of Status system had been in place for decades and allowed some foreign students to remain in the United States for extended periods by repeatedly enrolling in new courses.
The department says the revised policy will increase federal oversight and ensure that students leave the country after completing the academic programme for which they originally entered the US, unless they receive approval to extend their stay.
When Will the New Rules Take Effect?
The new regulation will come into force 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register.
According to the rule, international students already living in the United States under the existing Duration of Status system will also transition to the new framework, with their authorised stay limited to up to four years from the date the policy takes effect.
