Trump Administration proposes new Rule eliminating Duration of Status (D/S) for F-1 Students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, and I-1 Foreign Media Representatives
On August 28, 2025, The Trump Administration proposed a new Rule eliminating the Duration of Status (“D/S”) admission expiration date. Under the new Rule, nonimmigrants in F-1/F-2 (students and their dependents), J-1/J-2 (exchange visitors and their dependents), and I-1 (foreign media representatives) status would only be admitted to the United States for the time period noted on their respective Form I-20 or DS-2019, with the maximum admission period limited to four years. Nonimmigrants who need additional time to complete their programs would be required to apply to extend their status with USCIS and potentially have their biometrics collected as part of the process, similar to how other nonimmigrants extend their status.
The Proposed Rule also makes the following changes:
F-1 students will be prohibited from extending their F-1 status by enrolling in a new educational program that is the same or lower educational level as their previous F-1 program.
F-1 students cannot transfer to another school within the first year of their studies unless SEVP authorizes an exception, and graduate-level F-1 students cannot change their programs at any point during their studies.
The departure period after completing an F-1 program is reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
Delays in completing an F-1 education program will generally not be an acceptable reason for extending one’s F-1 status. Reasons for these delays include but are not limited to academic probation, suspension, or “a student’s repeated inability or unwillingness to complete their studies.”
F-1 students whose timely filed extension applications remain pending after their status expiration date may receive an “auto-extension” of their on- or off-campus employment authorization for up to 240 days “based on severe economic hardship resulting from emergent circumstances.
The Trump Administration states that the Rule’s purpose is to increase national security and reduce fraud. However, the new Rule would likely impose a substantial burden on nonimmigrants in these categories with minimal benefit to the United States. The filing fee for the applicable extension application is currently $470 (or $420 if filing online) plus an additional $30 biometrics fee. Further, USCIS usually takes several months to process these types of applications, and processing times would likely become even longer due to the increased volume resulting from this Rule.
Read the Proposed Rule here.