Particle.news
Download on the App Store
13 ARTICLES
·
6h ago

DHS Ends ‘Duration of Status,’ Limits Student Visas to Generally Four Years

The rule hands extensions and program changes to federal adjudicators and heightens vetting, a move that risks delaying PhD completion and reducing international enrollment.

At the University of California system, where international students comprise about 30% of graduate degree program enrollment, the rule change is concerning, officials said. UC Berkeley, shown in a file photo, alone enrolls about 3,300 international students as undergraduates and about 3,900 international graduate students, according to university data.  
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • The Department of Homeland Security published the final rule in mid‑July and the policy takes effect on Sept. 15, 2026, replacing the long‑standing duration‑of‑status system with fixed admission periods generally capped at four years.
  • Students who need to stay beyond that cap must file formal extension requests with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that include biometrics, background checks and filing fees instead of relying on campus certification.
  • The rule tightens rules on transfers and program changes and bars some graduate students on F‑1 visas from switching programs or institutions, removing much of the academic flexibility students previously had.
  • Universities say the change will not immediately revoke current visas but warn that travel after Sept. 15 will subject returnees to the new limits and that the four‑year ceiling threatens typical PhD timelines, international enrollment and research capacity.
  • Colleges are advising students to plan travel and monitor guidance, and higher‑education groups expect legal challenges and congressional scrutiny as institutions assess financial and operational fallout from the rule.