The "Duration of Status" (D/S) policy allows F students and J exchange visitors to remain in the country as long as they are making normal progress towards completing their academic or exchange objectives or are engaging in optional practical training (OPT), provided they are properly tracked in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The proposed DHS rule now under consideration would eliminate D/S and replace it with a system that admits F students and J exchange visitors for a fixed period of time: only until the program end date on their SEVIS document, but not to exceed four years. This means students and exchange visitors who need more time to accomplish their purpose would need to apply for a formal extension of stay from USCIS, an agency already mired in processing backlogs. Ending D/S would create higher compliance costs and legal risks, enrollment impacts, and heavier advising burdens for higher education institutions.
Duration of Status Explainer
NAFSA's non-technical overview of why the Duration of Status policy is so critical, and the implications for losing it on the U.S. economy and global competitiveness.
Institutional Comment Guide
NAFSA calls on institutions of higher education to defend the Duration of Status. Read our guidance on how to submit a comment letter and what to include in that letter before the public comment deadline ends on September 29.
NAFSA's Analysis
NAFSA provides a comprehensive breakdown and analysis of the DHS proposal to replace Duration of Status, including an executive summary and a table of contents with hyperlinks.
Grassroots Advocacy
Losing D/S could be a punishing blow to the United States’ long-held preeminence as the top destination for the world’s best and brightest. Urge Congress to defend it, to sustain our global advantage in groundbreaking research, technological innovation, and scientific advancements.