The New F-1 Rule Ending Duration Of Status: What It Means For Day 1 CPT By Chris Prescott, Partner, PSBP Law On July 17, 2026, DHS published a final rule eliminating “duration of status” (D/S) for F-1 students and replacing it with a fixed period of admission, capped at four years, effective September 15, 2026....
F-1 International students- CPT/OPT and STEM OPT
Jul172026
If you’re an international student, exchange visitor, or foreign media professional in the United States, a major change to how you’re admitted is coming this fall. On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule that eliminates “Duration of Status” (D/S) for F (academic student), J (exchange visitor), and I...
A Department of Homeland Security final rule that would eliminate “Duration of Status” (D/S) for F-1 students (also J-1 visa holders) has now cleared the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OMB cleared the rule (RIN: 1653-AA95) on June 17, 2026, the last procedural step before publication in the Federal Register. The rule is...
With the current environment around immigration enforcement, now is a good time to revisit the rules governing F-1 student employment particularly the unemployment day limits that catch many students off guard. The Basics: What F-1 Students Can and Cannot Do International students on an F-1 visa have several avenues for lawful employment, but each comes...
Feb182026
In family-based immigration, your petitioner can make all the difference. Understanding who your petitioner is can help you set realistic expectations and plan your immigration strategy. Who is the Petitioner? Family-based immigration typically begins with a petitioner. This petitioner can be a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident who files a petition (Form I-130) on...
This week the Trump administration announced a new rule, which if passed would eliminate “duration of status” for international students. Unlike other non-immigrant classifications, international students are admitted for duration of status, meaning they can stay for as long as is required to complete their studies, OPT and STEM OPT. It also allows them to...
Surprisingly, this Trump administration has not attacked the H-1B program, at least not with regard to filings through USCIS. Under the previous Trump Administration, we saw a huge uptick in requests for further evidence (RFEs), and denials and approval rates took a nosedive. Since Trump took office earlier this year, approval rates remain high, although...
Jun262025
The U.S. Department of State has announced a significant change in the visa vetting process for international students and exchange visitors. Under new guidance released on June 18, 2025, all applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications will now be required to make their social media accounts public as part of expanded security...