U.S. Student Visa Rule Caps Stays at Four Years, Affecting Spanish Scholars and Employers

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has finalized a rule that removes the open‑ended “duration of status” (D/S) for F‑1, J and I visas and imposes a maximum four‑year stay for initial admissions. The regulation, announced by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, takes effect on September 15 and requires students who need more time to apply for an extension with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, undergoing biometric checks and financial verification. The grace period after completing studies is cut from 60 to 30 days, and transfers between programs or schools are now limited to exceptional circumstances.

Employers relying on Day One Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must adjust workforce planning because the fixed‑period framework makes the employee’s I‑94 expiration, Form I‑20 dates, and any filed Form I‑539 extension critical for continued work authorization. This adds new compliance steps for tracking extensions, visa status, and the 30‑day grace period.

The changes primarily impact thousands of Spanish students who pursue master’s and doctoral programs in the United States, as well as U.S. employers who hire international students under CPT and OPT programs.