US universities urge foreign students to return from overseas before 4-year visa limit takes effect

Universities across the U.S. are advising international students on travel and visa issues, with some urging F-1 and J-1 visa holders to return from overseas before sweeping U.S. immigration changes take effect on Sept. 15. The guidance follows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) publication of a Final Rule on July 17 that replaces the decades-old Duration of Status (D/S) system with fixed periods of admission for F, J and I visa holders.Under the new regulations, F-1 student visas and J-1 exchange visitor visas will be granted for a fixed period of up to four years, while I visas for foreign journalists will be limited to 240 days, or 90 days for Chinese nationals.Columbia University on Wednesday advised international students to return to New York before classes begin on Sept. 8, noting that the Final Rule has a 60-day implementation period before taking effect on Sept. 15. Students at the University of Pennsylvania. Photo from the university's Facebook page The DHS rule also reduces the post-completion grace period from 60 days to 30 days. Students who need additional time in the U.S. will be required to file Form I-539 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to request an extension of stay.Other universities have also begun issuing guidance while reviewing the implications of the new regulations.The University of Washington's International Student Services (ISS) said there is no immediate action required while it completes a detailed assessment of the Final Rule.The university said it will provide updated guidance after finishing its review and asked students not to submit questions about individual F-1 or J-1 cases until then. It also reminded students to continue complying with current immigration requirements by maintaining full-time enrollment, reporting address changes within 10 days, reviewing I-20 or DS-2019 program end dates, and submitting requests early for benefits such as program extensions, CPT, OPT and STEM OPT.The University of Pennsylvania's International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) said it is reviewing the new regulations and encouraged students to monitor official university updates rather than relying on media reports or unofficial interpretations.In guidance posted on its website, ISSS instructed schools and departments not to change hiring decisions, appointments, funding, academic planning, travel recommendations or other administrative policies based solely on news reports. It also asked faculty and staff to direct immigration-related questions from students and scholars to ISSS.Yale University has also published detailed guidance for international students through its Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS). The university said most students already in the U.S. before Sept. 15 do not need to take immediate action because they are generally covered by transition provisions under the new rule.However, Yale cautioned that international travel after the effective date could change how the regulations apply, as students reentering the U.S. would receive a new Form I-94 under the fixed-period admission system instead of the current D/S framework.Cornell University said it is evaluating the impact of the Final Rule and will provide additional guidance to its international community as more information becomes available.Carnegie Mellon University's Office of International Education (OIE) likewise said it is developing procedures to implement the new federal requirements and will update students once its review is complete.