Washington, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued today the public inspection copy of its final rule ending the long-standing Duration of Status policy for international students (F status) and exchange visitors (J status). It also imposes new limits on academic flow and educational mobility. After a rudimentary analysis, Fanta Aw, PhD, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators released the following statement:
“DHS’ decision to end Duration of Status is a misguided and unnecessary policy shift that injects uncertainty, bureaucracy, and fear into a system that has long worked effectively. It is a solution in search of a problem. International students and exchange visitors are already the most monitored nonimmigrant populations in the United States. SEVIS and the partnership between institutions and the federal government already provide a rigorous and highly effective system of oversight, compliance, and accountability.
“This rule introduces unnecessary government intrusion into academic decision-making. Requiring students and scholars to seek approval to extend their academic program, change majors, or pursue the next level of study places life-changing educational decisions in the hands of an already overburdened immigration system—not educators, and not institutions.
"At a time when global competition for talent is intensifying, this policy sends exactly the wrong message. It tells the world’s brightest students and scholars that the United States is becoming less welcoming, less predictable, and less committed. This is not just bad for higher education, it is bad for American innovation, economic growth, workforce development, and global leadership.
"Despite more than 20,000 public comments—including NAFSA’s—that raised serious concerns, DHS has chosen to move forward with a rule that will create more barriers for global talent without making our nation safer or stronger. Americans should be clear-eyed about what is at stake: international students contribute immeasurably to our classrooms, our communities, our research enterprise, and our economy. Policies that destabilize their ability to study, innovate, and contribute here do not advance the United States' national interest, they weaken them.
“NAFSA remains committed to working with policymakers to advance practical, effective solutions that uphold national security while preserving the openness, dynamism, and global competitiveness that have long defined American higher education. At the same time, we will vigorously explore every available avenue to challenge this harmful and shortsighted rule.”
About NAFSA: Association of International Educators
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. NAFSA promotes policies that ensure the continued growth and impact of global learning, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding through study abroad, international student services, and campus internationalization. With a network of over 10,000 professionals in the field at more than 3,500 institutions in 150+ countries, NAFSA is committed to fostering a more globally connected and peaceful world.