The Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule on Aug. 28 that would end the long-standing “duration of status” policy for F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars, potentially reshaping how Cornell’s international community maintains their legal stay in the United States.
Duration of status is the admission period granted to most F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors, allowing them to remain in the United States as long as they maintain their program requirements and follow visa rules.
F-1 visas generally cover international students pursuing degrees, while J-1 visas apply to exchange visitors, including researchers, visiting scholars and short-term students. Under the current system, students do not need to repeatedly file with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to stay in status, as long as they remain enrolled or otherwise authorized.
However, the proposed rule would replace the current duration of status policy with a defined period of stay of exclusively four years or less.
Cornell International Services wrote in a campuswide Monday alert that “anyone who wishes to remain in the U.S. beyond that time will be required to apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an extension of status.”
The proposed policy would also shorten the F-1 post-completion grace period from 60 days to 30 days and limit the ability of students to transfer between U.S. institutions or change their academic program or degree level.
“Be aware that this is currently a proposed rule only, with a mandatory public comment period ending September 29,” the statement reads. “DHS may revise the rule, and it will only take effect if published as a final rule in the Federal Register.”
DHS estimates the proposed rule will impose $93.3 million in first-year compliance costs on colleges and universities, along with new training demands and advising challenges. Institutions may also see enrollment decline if international students perceive U.S. study as more burdensome and less flexible.
This is not the first time DHS has attempted to end “duration of status.” A similar 2020 proposal was withdrawn after significant pushback from higher education and advocacy groups.
Cornell International Services explained that it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates, noting that national higher education organizations are expected to submit comments.
“It’s possible some aspects of the proposed rule may be revised during the review process based on public feedback,” the alert reads. “Depending on the content of the final rule, there could be impacts on current students, as well as new students. We’ll know more after the comment period.”
Clarification, Sept. 9, 2025: This article has been updated to remove the line "University Media Relations did not immediately respond to The Sun’s request for comment," as the University's perspective was reflected in Cornell International Services' statement.
Emma Galgano is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a senior writer for the News department and can be reached at egalgano@cornellsun.com.
