A Major Student Visa Change May Be Coming

If you're an international student, your legal stay may soon have an expiration date that has nothing to do with when you graduate. Right now most students, F1s, J1 exchange visitors and even foreign journalists in I status for "duration of status." They can remain while the program continues as long as they follow the rules. Now DHS is preparing to replace that with a fixed date. The final rule cleared White House review according to the news on June 17, but it has not been published yet. So as of this, nothing changes. The version at least that you read about in the news is going to cap most F and J admissions at their program length or for four years, whichever is shorter. English language students will only get two years, foreign journalists only 240 days. It also is going to cut the F1 departure period from 60 days to 30 days. No more 60 day grace period, just 30. Students needing more time, PhD candidates, people seeking STEM OPT, they're going to file extensions directly with USCIS. That means more fees for the students, more government delays and a new risk of status because immigration doesn't deal with a timely manner. Now this is not the final rule. This is what's being reported. We have to see the final language, but students will need to start checking their expiration dates on their I94 if this goes into effect. The question is, should someone still lawfully studying, following the rules, enrolled in school have to ask the government for permission every four years to continue to remain in the United States? You tell me.