In a dramatic turn for thousands of U.S. colleges, universities and research institutions, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction late on 14 September 2026 halting the Department of Homeland Security’s attempt to replace the open-ended “duration of status” (D/S) admission period with fixed visa validity dates for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors and I-media representatives. The 160-page final rule, published on 17 July, was due to take effect on 15 September and would have forced international students and scholars to file extensions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) every two or four years, pay new fees and risk falling out of status while applications were pending. More than 1 million active SEVIS records would have been affected. University associations, labor unions and civil-rights groups sued, arguing DHS had exceeded its statutory authority, ignored data showing over-stay rates had fallen, and failed to weigh compliance costs conservatively estimated at US$1.5 billion for schools and employers. Judge Dennis Saylor IV agreed that plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits, finding the rule “arbitrary and capricious” under the Administrative Procedure Act and that implementation would cause immediate irreparable harm to institutions preparing to issue new I-20 and DS-2019 documents for the spring admissions cycle. He also noted the regulatory change would undermine U.S. competitiveness for global talent at a time when peer destinations such as Canada and the U.K. are expanding post-study work options. Practically, the injunction means international students and exchange visitors may continue to receive D/S admissions and use SEVIS extensions rather than filing Form I-539 with USCIS. Designated School Officials (DSOs) and Responsible Officers (ROs) should, however, be prepared for possible government appeals or a revised rulemaking. Employers counting on the rule to curb “benching” of STEM OPT graduates should reassess compliance plans. For multinational companies, the decision averts a surge of work-authorization gaps, travel disruptions and downstream I-9 reverifications that would have complicated winter assignment planning. Universities are urging students not to accelerate travel plans, emphasising that admission practices remain unchanged—for now.
