The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has published its long-awaited final rule replacing the open-ended “duration of status” (D/S) admission period for international students and exchange visitors with a fixed period of stay, usually four years (two years for certain flight-risk cohorts). Under the regulation—slated to take effect on 15 September 2026—foreign students and scholars who need more time to complete, change or extend a program must file an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and pay the associated filing fee. The change marks the most significant overhaul of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program since 2003. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the open-ended admission system had “compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud.” Universities counter that the new regime shifts routine academic timelines into the federal bureaucracy, potentially snarling students in application backlogs and undermining campus autonomy to manage curricular changes, leaves of absence and Optional Practical Training extensions. In Illinois alone, more than 66,000 international students contributed an estimated $2.4 billion to the state economy in 2024 and supported 22,000 jobs. Higher-education leaders fear the rule could erode that revenue stream as competing destinations such as Canada and Australia market faster, more flexible immigration pathways. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign officials have already posted assurances that current students remain welcome but are “closely reviewing” compliance steps they will have to build before the September deadline. From a corporate-mobility perspective, the rule adds a new adjudication layer for STEM graduates entering the U.S. workforce. Employers planning to hire F-1 students on Curricular Practical Training (CPT), post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extensions will need to factor potential processing delays and filing costs into talent-acquisition timelines. International assignees who depart the United States after the effective date will be readmitted with a specific “Admit Until” date rather than the familiar D/S notation—raising the stakes for timely applications and I-94 monitoring. Institutions have 45 days to update internal policies, SEVIS advisories and compliance training. Immigration counsel recommend that universities and businesses identify “at-risk” populations—students changing majors, pursuing second degrees or awaiting OPT approvals—and map out filing calendars well in advance of the September switchover.
Source: Axios Chicago
