Federal Proposal Would Limit How Long International Students Can Stay in U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposal at the end of last month that would limit how long international students can stay in the United States.

“The proposed D/S changes create unnecessary barriers to education, limit our economic growth, and compromise our values of diversity and integrity as global citizens.”

– Courtney Stammler, CFA member and CSU Long Beach lecturer

The proposal would increase uncertainty and administrative burdens for international students, discouraging them from attending U.S. universities, including those in the CSU system. CFA members oppose the proposal because we know that international students are important members of our campus communities and contribute to intellectual, cultural, and economic life in California.

DHS could revise the rule based on public comment, and we strongly encourage you to join CFA members in opposing this proposal by submitting one before the September 29 deadline.

For more than 30 years, duration of status (D/S) has let international students complete their studies without needing to file for an extension of status with the federal government as long as they attend their programs and make academic progress. But the proposal would end D/S for international students, replacing it with a defined period of stay of no more than four years, plus a 30-day grace period. Any extension would require filing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The four-year limit will likely be insufficient for many international students. The National Center for Education Statistics reports a median of 52 months (4.3 years) to finish an undergraduate degree.

English language training students would be further limited to a 24-month admission limit, plus a 30-day grace period. The proposal also introduces several other new requirements, including restrictions on changes in major or level of study.

Courtney Stammler, CFA member and CSU Long Beach lecturer, said she supports welcoming students pursuing all academic pathways without any change to D/S.

“As a global educator, our international students bring tremendous gifts to our campus, to our collective learning efforts, to our global and ethical leadership contributions, and to all our student’s growth — international and domestic — as we aim to work collectively to enhance and develop our learning communities and society,” Stammler said. “The proposed D/S changes create unnecessary barriers to education, limit our economic growth, and compromise our values of diversity and integrity as global citizens.”

The Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) passed a resolution expressing concern over how the DHS proposal would affect international student recruitment, educational outcomes, and finances for the CSU. The senate urged the Chancellor’s Office and CSU campuses to continue providing proactive communication, advising, and advocacy resources for international students navigating visa processes.

The senate also asserted that the proposal would significantly affect students who pursue consecutive degrees at the same academic level, especially those seeking a master’s degree. The practice of program stacking to extend a student visa stay would become substantially more difficult.

The proposal cannot become effective until DHS reviews public comment on it, submits it to the Office of Management and Budget to review, and publishes a final rule in the Federal Register with a future effective date.

The public comment deadline is September 29. Please join CFA members in submitting public comments on the proposed policy here.