International Students: Check Your I-94 NOW

ATTENTION, FOREIGN STUDENTS, THE EXPIRATION DATE ON YOUR VISA IS NOW NOT WHAT CONTROLS HOW LONG YOU CAN REMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. YOUR I-94 CONTROLS YOUR STAY, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAS JUST COMPLETELY CHANGED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. SO YOU GOTTA LISTEN. BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 15, F1 STUDENTS, J1 EXCHANGE VISITORS AND I FOREIGN MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL NO LONGER BE ADMITTED FOR DURATION OF STATUS. F AND J NONIMMIGRANTS WILL RECEIVE A FIXED I-94 DATE BASED ON THE PROGRAM LENGTH, BUT GENERALLY NO LONGER THAN FOUR YEARS. IF YOUR PROGRAM REQUIRES MORE TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FILE AN EXTENSION WITH IMMIGRATION BEFORE YOUR I-94 EXPIRES. THAT NORMALLY MEANS AN I-539, A NEW I-20, A NEW DS-2019, PROOF OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT, A FILING FEE, POSSIBLY BIOMETRICS. A SCHOOL EXTENDING YOUR I-20 WILL NO LONGER EXTEND YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS BY ITSELF. SO IF YOUR I-94 EXPIRES WITHOUT A TIMELY FILING, UNLAWFUL PRESENCE IS GOING TO START TO BEGIN AUTOMATICALLY. SO IF IMMIGRATION DENIES YOUR EXTENSION AFTER THE I-94 HAS EXPIRED, YOU ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. THE F1 GRACE PERIOD IS NOW NO LONGER 60 DAYS. IT'S 30 DAYS. AND THERE ARE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERRING SCHOOLS, CHANGING MAJORS, CHANGING EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, ATTENDING LANGUAGE PROGRAMS FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. IF YOU'RE STARTING ANOTHER F1 PROGRAM, THE SAME OR LOWER DEGREE LEVEL. NOW STUDENTS ALREADY HERE IN DS RECEIVE TRANSITION PROTECTION. BUT IF YOU ARE HERE ON DS AND TRAVEL AFTER SEPTEMBER 15TH, THAT PROTECTION IS GONE. YOU'RE GOING TO RETURN WITH A FIXED EXPIRATION DATE AND IMMEDIATELY ENTER THE NEW SYSTEM. SO IF YOU'RE IN F, J, I STATUS CHECK YOUR I-94. CHECK YOUR PROGRAM END DATE, YOUR OPT PLANS AND INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 15TH.