In a sweeping policy shift announced on July 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a rule that will admit F-1 and J-1 students to the United States for no more than four years at a time. Under the new regulation—scheduled to take effect in September—foreign students who need additional time to complete their degrees must apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for an extension instead of remaining in “duration-of-status,” a system that has been in place for decades. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the change closes a “loophole” that allowed some students to prolong their stay indefinitely. University leaders and international-education advocates reacted sharply, warning that the extra paperwork will strain campus compliance offices and deter high-skilled talent from choosing the United States. Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, called the rule “exactly the wrong message” at a moment of intense global competition for scientific and technical talent. Institutions that rely heavily on full-tuition-paying international students—especially smaller public universities—fear additional enrollment declines. From a business-mobility perspective, the rule tightens downstream labor-market pipelines. Many STEM students transition from F-1 to Optional Practical Training and ultimately to H-1B status; limiting study periods could compress these timelines, add legal costs for employers, and complicate workforce-planning for companies that depend on campus recruiting. Multinationals may now need to accelerate internship decisions or shift entry-level hiring to third-country hubs such as Canada and the U.K. DHS argues that the cap will enhance national-security vetting by forcing periodic reviews of student intent. Yet critics counter that SEVIS—the real-time tracking database already used by schools and DHS—provides ample visibility. Litigation is considered likely; higher-education coalitions are evaluating whether the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act by reversing long-standing policy without sufficient justification. Practical advice for employers and students: build six-month lead times for any program that extends beyond four academic years; budget for $455 filing fees and potential legal counsel; and keep meticulous academic-progress records to support extension requests. Universities should update orientation materials and designate staff to triage extension cases ahead of the autumn 2026 intake.
Source: WBUR (AP wire)
