Overview
- The Department of Homeland Security finalised the rule on Thursday, July 16, 2026, replacing the long-standing 'duration of status' system with fixed admission periods and generally limiting F‑1 and J‑1 stays to four years.
- The rule sets specific limits for media visas by capping I‑visa admissions at 240 days and at 90 days for nationals of the People’s Republic of China.
- Extensions and most status changes must be filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and may require biometric checks and in‑person interviews instead of being handled by schools or program sponsors.
- The regulation will be published in the Federal Register and must complete mandatory congressional review before taking effect 60 days after publication, a process that could delay or prompt legal and legislative challenges.
- Students and researchers face immediate practical risks from shorter grace periods, tighter transfer and program‑change rules, and possible unlawful presence if extension filings are delayed, with large cohorts such as Indian doctoral students likely to be hit hardest.