Washington, D.C., Aug. 28, 2025 — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule that would significantly restrict how long international students may remain in the United States on F-1 visas. The regulation would replace the long-standing practice of admitting students for “duration of status” (D/S) with fixed admission periods tied to the length of their academic programs, capped at four years.
The rule, titled Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media, was released in the Federal Register and is open for public comment for 30 days. Full text is available at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2025-16554.
Background
Since 1979, most F-1 students have been admitted for “duration of status.” This system allows them to remain in the country for as long as they are enrolled in a full course of study, pursue authorized practical training, and maintain their visa conditions. DHS argues that this open-ended structure complicates enforcement, creates opportunities for fraud, and makes it difficult to ensure students are progressing academically.
The agency points to examples of individuals remaining in F-1 status for decades by transferring repeatedly between schools or enrolling in multiple programs without making genuine progress toward graduation. DHS also highlights past “pay-to-stay” fraud cases in which schools issued paperwork to keep students in status in exchange for money, without requiring actual attendance.
Fixed Admission and Extensions
Under the proposed rule, F-1 students would be admitted for the length of their academic program, with a maximum stay of four years. Students whose programs extend beyond that period, or who require more time to complete their studies, would need to file an extension of stay application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Extension applications would involve additional fees, possible biometrics, and DHS review of whether the student has maintained status. During the pendency of a timely filed extension request, certain on-campus and authorized hardship employment could continue for up to 240 days.
Program Transfers and Educational Objectives
The proposal also imposes new restrictions on how students may change programs:
- Graduate students would be prohibited from switching to a different program once enrolled.
- Undergraduate students would not be allowed to transfer schools or change educational objectives during their first academic year, unless DHS grants an exception for extraordinary circumstances such as school closure.
- Students completing one program could only move to a higher educational level (e.g., bachelor’s to master’s, or master’s to Ph.D.). Pursuing a second degree at the same level or a lower level would no longer be permitted in F-1 status.
DHS explains that repeat enrollment at the same level has been used as a strategy to prolong stay indefinitely, which the agency considers inconsistent with the temporary nature of student status.
Shortened Grace Period
Currently, F-1 students receive a 60-day grace period after completion of a program or Optional Practical Training (OPT) to prepare for departure or change status. The proposed rule would reduce this period to 30 days, requiring quicker decisions about next steps such as employment authorization, transfer to another status, or departure.
Limits on Language Training
For students attending English or other language programs, DHS would impose a maximum stay of 24 months, including vacation and breaks. Officials argue that language programs are intended to be short-term and should not be used to facilitate indefinite stays.
Stricter Standards for Extensions
The proposal clarifies that certain delays will not be acceptable grounds for program extensions. Specifically, students who fail to finish on time due to probation, suspension, or repeated failure to complete coursework would generally not qualify for additional time. DHS says these provisions are designed to prevent students from using academic struggles as a pretext to extend their stay.
DHS Justification
According to the agency, admitting students for fixed periods would align the F-1 category with most other temporary visa classifications, which already require defined admission dates and extension requests. DHS also emphasizes national security and immigration enforcement benefits, noting that fixed terms would give immigration officers regular opportunities to review compliance and detect fraud.
“Replacing admissions for duration of status with admissions for a fixed time period will provide additional protections and oversight of these nonimmigrant classifications and allow DHS to better evaluate whether students are maintaining status while temporarily in the United States,” the proposal states.
Reactions and Implications
If adopted, the rule would represent the most significant change to student visa regulations since the late 1970s. The proposal is likely to generate strong reactions from universities, student organizations, and policymakers. Supporters may argue it strengthens oversight and protects the integrity of the system, while critics may warn that added bureaucracy, shortened grace periods, and restrictions on academic flexibility could make the United States a less attractive destination for international students.
For students, the implications are substantial. Pursuing a second degree at the same level would no longer be possible in F-1 status. Program delays would require direct DHS involvement rather than routine extensions through designated school officials. And the shortened grace period would give graduates less time to transition to OPT, another visa status, or return home.
Next Steps
The rule is currently in the comment stage, with feedback accepted through the federal rulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov. After the comment period closes, DHS may finalize the rule, modify it, or withdraw it.
If implemented, the changes would transform how F-1 student status is managed in the United States, with new compliance requirements for students and new oversight responsibilities for schools. For now, international students and institutions alike are watching closely as the rulemaking process unfolds.
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