US Department of Homeland Security limits duration of status for international students

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule on July 17 that ends the practice of granting international students, exchange visitors and foreign media representatives an indefinite "duration of status." Under the new rule, holders of F (student), J (exchange visitor) and I (media) visas will be authorized to stay only for the length of their program or for four years, whichever is shorter, unless they obtain an extension. The change aligns these categories with other non‑immigrant visas that require a specific departure date and gives immigration officers a clearer basis for enforcement. Previously, schools and program sponsors were largely responsible for monitoring compliance, creating uncertainty about when a student's authorized stay ended. The rule aims to improve oversight and ensure that foreign students, who represent the largest group of international scholars in the United States and contribute significant tuition revenue and research, remain in status that matches the duration of their academic activities.