A notice posted June 16 on the University of Texas Southwestern’s international-affairs site confirms that the Department of Homeland Security has sent a proposed rule to the Federal Register that would replace open-ended “Duration of Status” (D/S) admissions with fixed end-dates for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors. Under the draft, affected non-immigrants would need to file Form I-539 extensions—at current processing times, potentially every two years—to maintain lawful status. The shift would overturn more than 30 years of policy that allowed students to remain in the United States for “the time needed to complete academic objectives plus any authorized training.” Universities and business groups fear cascading consequences: USCIS already struggles with caseloads, and delayed extensions could leave graduates unable to start Optional Practical Training or STEM OPT, disrupting campus research and corporate talent pipelines.
![DHS Proposes Ending ‘Duration of Status’ for F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders]()
In the face of these looming administrative challenges, VisaHQ offers an online platform that guides students, scholars, and employers through U.S. visa and extension procedures, provides deadline reminders, and streamlines Form I-539 submissions—services that can help soften the impact of the proposed rule (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/).
DHS argues that fixed periods will curb visa overstays and align student admissions with other non-immigrant categories. Critics counter that the real problem is inadequate exit-tracking, not bad-faith scholars. The regulation’s cost-benefit analysis projects nearly 1 million additional I-539 applications per year, generating fee revenue but also imposing hundreds of millions of dollars in paperwork costs on schools and employers. If the rule is finalized, global mobility managers should build visa-expiration tracking for trainees and interns into HRIS systems, budget for repeat filings, and prepare contingency plans—such as remote onboarding or assignments outside the United States—when extensions are pending. Universities are expected to coordinate a consortium comment opposing the measure before the 60-day public-comment window closes later this summer. Because the proposal would also affect spouses and children in F-2 and J-2 status, family travel could become riskier; crossing a border with an imminent expiration would require proof of a timely extension filing to reenter. Mobility policies should be updated accordingly.
In the face of these looming administrative challenges, VisaHQ offers an online platform that guides students, scholars, and employers through U.S. visa and extension procedures, provides deadline reminders, and streamlines Form I-539 submissions—services that can help soften the impact of the proposed rule (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/).
DHS argues that fixed periods will curb visa overstays and align student admissions with other non-immigrant categories. Critics counter that the real problem is inadequate exit-tracking, not bad-faith scholars. The regulation’s cost-benefit analysis projects nearly 1 million additional I-539 applications per year, generating fee revenue but also imposing hundreds of millions of dollars in paperwork costs on schools and employers. If the rule is finalized, global mobility managers should build visa-expiration tracking for trainees and interns into HRIS systems, budget for repeat filings, and prepare contingency plans—such as remote onboarding or assignments outside the United States—when extensions are pending. Universities are expected to coordinate a consortium comment opposing the measure before the 60-day public-comment window closes later this summer. Because the proposal would also affect spouses and children in F-2 and J-2 status, family travel could become riskier; crossing a border with an imminent expiration would require proof of a timely extension filing to reenter. Mobility policies should be updated accordingly.
