On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a rule ending the long-standing Duration of Status (D/S) policy for F-1 international students and J-1 exchange visitors. Beginning September 15, 2026, individuals entering the U.S. under F or J status will no longer receive an open-ended period of stay tied solely to maintaining their status. Instead, they will be admitted for the length of their academic or exchange program, subject to a maximum admi

For nearly half a century, international students in the U.S. have operated under the Duration of Status (D/S) framework. That longstanding policy may now be subject to significant change. On May 5, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) submitted a final rule affecting F, J and I nonimmigrant classifications to the OMB/OIRA for federal review. The proposed regulatory shift would replace the current D/S system, which permits individuals to remain in the U.S. for as l

In recent weeks, a proposed bill in Iowa has drawn significant attention from Chinese international students and families planning long-term careers and residency pathways in the U.S. The legislation, known as HF 2513, would prohibit public universities in Iowa from entering into new employment agreements with certain H-1B visa holders from a list of designated countries. The bill has already passed the Iowa House of Representatives and has advanced through the Senate Labor C

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially ended the long-standing practice that allowed applicants for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to request a Social Security Number (SSN) directly through form I-765. Since 2017, EAD applicants were able to request an original or replacement SSN as part of their form I-765 filing under the Social Security Administration Enumeration Beyond Entry program. This streamlined process eliminated the need for ap