Hey everyone, I wanted to share an important update that could affect international students and exchange visitors in the U.S. DHS (the immigration agency) has proposed a new rule that would end “Duration of Status (D/S)” and replace it with fixed dates of admission. What does that mean? - Right now: You’re admitted for “D/S” — basically, as long as you’re maintaining your status (studying full-time, following the rules), you can stay until you finish your program. - Under the proposal: You’d be admitted for a specific end date (based on your program length, up to 4 years). If you need more time, you’d have to file an extension application with USCIS and wait for approval. Some of the big changes they want to make: - Shorten the grace period after graduation/OPT from 60 days → 30 days. - Cap English language programs at 24 months total. - Limit how/when you can change schools or programs (graduate students can’t change programs in the middle, and you can only move “up” in education levels, not sideways or down). - Require extensions through USCIS if your program takes longer than your original admission date. Why is DHS doing this? They say it’s about giving immigration officers more chances to check that people are following the rules, and to stop people from staying in student status for decades. What does this mean for you? - Nothing right now — this is just a proposal, not law. - There will be a public comment period before anything could take effect. - If it ever goes into effect, it would mean more paperwork, fees, and stricter timelines for students. My advice for now - Stay calm — this is not finalized. - Stay informed — I’ll keep you posted on updates. - If the rule does move forward, I’ll break down exactly what it means for you and what steps you’d need to take. We’ve seen proposals like this before, and they don’t always become law. But in this case it does seem to be a priority for the current administration. It's important to know what’s being discussed so you’re not caught off guard, and I'll be there with you every step of the way.

I’m Yaakoub , an international student originally from Algeria and now living in the U.S. on an F-2 visa. My academic background is in law (Bachelor’s) and criminology (Master’s). Currently, I’m studying in the U.S. and exploring graduate programs in Health Informatics, Data Science, and AI in healthcare. This community is a great chance for us to support each other, exchange knowledge, and stay motivated. I truly believe that if we’re active and help one another, we can all reach our goals faster and stronger.