New Immigration Rules: Fixed Stays for Students, Media, and Exchange Visitors

You might care about this because the US Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, has changed how long certain non-US citizens can stay in the country. This new rule affects academic students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign media. Before this change, these individuals were allowed to stay for an unspecified period, known as 'duration of status' or D/S. This meant they could remain in the US as long as they continued their studies, programs, or employment duties. The new rule changes this to a fixed time period of admission. It also adds a clear process for extending that stay. DHS made this change because the number of people in these categories has grown a lot. This growth made it hard for DHS to keep track of everyone and ensure they were following the rules. The old system, D/S, did not require these visitors to regularly check in with DHS. This situation created concerns about people overstaying or misusing their visa status. For example, some students or exchange visitors stayed in the US for many decades. The new rule aims to provide closer monitoring and protection. This means DHS will have better ways to check if these non-US citizens are keeping their valid status while they are in the United States. This rule comes after a proposal published in August 2025 and will become effective on September 15, 2026. What is particularly interesting about this legal document is that it changes a long-standing practice for several important temporary visa categories. Since 1978 for students and 1985 for exchange visitors and media representatives, the concept of 'duration of status' allowed for a flexible, open-ended stay. This new rule moves away from that flexibility towards a more controlled and definite period of admission. This change comes from the government's continued focus on national security and immigration enforcement, especially since events like 9/11 highlighted the need for better tracking of foreign visitors. The establishment of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, or SEVP, and the SEVIS computer system were earlier steps in this direction. This final rule is another step towards more direct government oversight. It means that foreign students, exchange visitors, and media professionals will now have a clear end date for their authorized stay. They will need to apply for extensions if they wish to remain longer. This shift shows a clear intention by DHS to have more predetermined opportunities to confirm that these non-US citizens are only doing what their visas allow. It is a fundamental change in how these temporary visits are managed. People who would be most interested in this legal document include a wide range of groups. Foreign academic students, who hold F visas, will find this directly relevant to their ability to study in the United States. Exchange visitors, who are on J visas, including those participating in cultural or educational programs, will also be very interested in these new limits and extension procedures. Representatives of foreign information media, who hold I visas, will also be affected by these changes to their authorized stay. Their dependents, such as spouses and children who hold F-2, J-2, or dependent I visas, will also need to understand how these rules affect their stay. Beyond the individuals themselves, educational institutions that host foreign students and organizations that sponsor exchange visitor programs will need to adapt their processes to help students and visitors comply with the new fixed time periods and extension requirements. Immigration lawyers and consultants will also need to understand these changes to advise their clients properly. Finally, anyone generally interested in US immigration policy, border security, or national security will find this rule a noteworthy development.