On August 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a proposed rule. It would change the initial admission period for F-1 and J-1 students and scholars to match the program end date noted on their Form I-20 or DS-2019, not to exceed four years.
We know that news of potential visa regulation changes can be disconcerting to our international students and scholars. Although at this point it is only a proposed rule, there are a few points we can share now:
- This regulation is not yet effective, and it will undergo a period of public comment and revision. During this time, key stakeholders and national organizations will be closely reviewing and commenting on the proposal. If approved, the final rule will not go into effect until a future date.
- A fixed duration of status is not unusual for other U.S. visa classifications. The proposed rule is intended to align the F-1 and J-1 visas with these other visa statuses, requiring students and scholars to apply for extensions if they need a longer period to complete their academic program. We expect that students and scholars who remain in good academic standing would still be able to request additional time to complete their studies or program, if needed.
We will continue to closely monitor developments and share updates as soon as new information becomes available.