The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is moving to reform the regulations governing nonimmigrant visas, with a proposal to replace the “duration of status” framework with fixed admission periods. This shift, detailed in a notice from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will impact F (academic students), J (exchange visitors), and I (representatives of foreign information media) visa holders. Under the new rules, individuals would be admitted for a specified time, and any extension of stay would necessitate a direct application to the DHS. The primary driver for these changes is to improve oversight and bolster national security. The DHS has stated that the current system, which does not have a fixed end date, makes it harder to confirm that nonimmigrants are engaging only in authorized activities. Significant changes being proposed include setting a maximum four-year limit for F and J visa stays, decreasing the post-study grace period for F-1 students, imposing restrictions on graduate-level F-1 students changing programs, and implementing a 240-day cap on I visa stays, with certain exclusions. These measures aim to provide immigration officers with more frequent opportunities to assess compliance with visa conditions and US immigration laws.
