Employment & Labor Insider

The Office of Management and Budget has begun its review of a rule from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If the rule becomes final, it would significantly change the F-1 visa program.

The proposed rule was published by the DHS on August 28, 2025, and the public comment period closed a month later. OMB review is the final step before a rule is published and takes effect.   

As we previously discussed, the rule as proposed last August would introduce several major changes to the F-1, J-1, and I visa programs.

A fundamental change would be the elimination of “duration of status” and the implementation of a fixed period of admission tied to the length of the academic or exchange program. For most F-1 students, the admission period would be capped at four years with the option of applying for an extension of stay.

Additional changes in the August 2025 proposed rule included the following:  

• Restrictions on F-1 student transfers. F-1 students would be required to complete their first academic year at the school that issued their initial Form I-20 (or successor form) before transferring to another school that is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.    F-1 students would also be restricted from changing educational objectives within their first year, unless the SEVP grants an exception.
• Restrictions on program changes. F-1 graduate students would be prohibited from changing to a different academic program at any point during their course of study.
• Limits on academic progression. F-1 students who complete one educational program can generally begin a higher-level program but not a program at the same or lower educational level.
• Restrictions on extensions of stay. The proposed rule clarifies that delays in program completion – such as those resulting from academic probation, suspension, or an F-1 student’s repeated failure to make academic progress toward completion of the course of study – would not qualify as valid reasons for an extension of stay.
• Shorter grace period. The departure grace period for F-1 students would be reduced from 60 days to 30 days after completion of a course of study or authorized post-completion practical training.
• Biometrics requirements. F-1, J-1, and I visa holders applying for an extension of stay would be required to submit biometric information in conjunction with any Extension of Stay application.

The contents of the final rule will not be known until the OMB completes its review and the rule is published in the Federal Register. Once published, the DHS will set an effective date. These changes to the F-1 and J-1 programs could apply to students and exchange visitors entering the United States as early as the upcoming academic cycle.