You may recall our update last September regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed changes to Duration of Status (D/S) and how the length of stay is managed for F and J students entering the U.S. While no final rule has been announced yet, we expect it to be published soon.
At this stage, nothing has changed and current rules and guidance remain in effect. Once the final rule is published, the elimination of D/S could affect how long students are permitted to remain in the U.S., changes to academic programs, extensions, and how certain benefits are handled. There will be a transition period once the rule is announced before it takes effect, so it is a good idea to be prepared for possible changes in the coming months.
What You Can Do Now
The most important step you can take is to maintain your current immigration status. Continue to follow all F-1 or J-1 requirements, including enrollment, employment authorization, and reporting obligations.
We encourage you to be more proactive in planning ahead and submitting requests early:
- Review your document end date (I-20 or DS-2019) and make sure your program end date is accurate. If you need more time to complete your studies, discuss your degree plan with an academic adviser and then submit an Extension through MyISSS.
- Submit requests early. Some immigration processes will be significantly affected by these new rules. We encourage students to submit the following requests through MyISSS as early as possible:
- I-20/DS-2019 Extension request if you need additional time to complete your studies
- Change of Level/Program request if you have confirmed enrollment in a new degree level/program at the UW for an upcoming future quarter.
- Transfer Out request if you are going to a new school after the spring quarter or after concluding OPT/STEM OPT
- OPT I-20, STEM OPT I-20, or Academic Training request if you are applying for work authorization
- Plan international travel carefully. If you intend to travel outside the U.S., review your documents carefully to ensure they are valid, you have a recent travel signature, and you understand re-entry requirements. If U.S. federal policies change while you are outside the U.S., it could affect your re-entry to the U.S. Continue to check our Government Updates page, blog posts, and all ISS emails before and during travel.
- Keep your records updated, including your address and any required reporting through ISS.
Taking these steps now can help reduce stress and avoid complications if new timelines or requirements are introduced later.
What to Expect from ISS
When the final rule is released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and published to the U.S. Federal Register, there will be a transition period between the announcement and when the rule takes effect. During this time, ISS will review the changes in detail to assess any impact our students.
Once we have an accurate understanding of the policy changes, ISS will:
- Send an email update directly to all F-1 and J-1 students
- Post detailed guidance on the Government Updates webpage
- Update immigration resources including the ISS website and instructional videos. This will take some time and some resources, like videos, may not be updated quickly.
Our priority is always to ensure you receive information that is accurate, clear, and relevant to your situation. Because these federal changes and updates can be very complex, this process will take some time. We appreciate your patience as we strive to provide clear, accurate guidance. We understand these changes may impact you and we will work quickly to provide you with updated information as soon as we are able to do so.