[Poscgrad] new rules affecting students on F & J visas

[Indridi H. Indridason]

Hi,

the DHS has issued a new rule affecting how long foreign students on F & 
J visas can stay in the US (max four years; need to apply for extensions 
if the duration of the program is longer). From what I understand, the 
rules don't apply to you if you have already started your studies.  
However, there is an important caveat - if you enter the US after Sept. 
15, you re-enter under the new rules.

So, if you are currently abroad and were planning to return after Sept. 
15th, you might want to think about changing your plans. Before you do 
so, you should contact the international office - I am not an expert in 
these things, and I don't really know how the rules will be interpreted 
and applied.  But it does look to me as significant enough a change to 
alert those of you who might be out of the country at the moment.

I imagine there will be some pushback from universities, and hopefully 
that will be effective, but for now it is probably best to assume that 
these will be the rules moving forward.

Here is a short article about the change:

https://www.highereddive.com/news/trump-administration-caps-student-visa-stays-at-4-years-under-final-rule/825475/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTkHbBwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXhQaFhCWk5qNGF2ZVN6dmdzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEesrrHE8svfLN8JF78FDOeW-nRiMgVW91YoAT7qGFpeREwpCGEVHVYCBlP1sQ_aem_xGWXo8zKGZSwtnN5jR4EWQ

And a FAQ on DHS's website (second point under "Transition Period" is 
the one with info on reentry into the US):

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/final-rule-establishing-a-fixed-time-period-of-admission-and-an-extension-of-stay-procedure-faq?fbclid=IwY2xjawTkHXhwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXhQaFhCWk5qNGF2ZVN6dmdzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeY3eUJXiBHjllbNrZ0_OMYncwtkTSTbfcqMbqZldQU-yIE8TORJgf10RuxOA_aem_5lYBuvlhJWVk0p6VbMPKLg

Best,

i

-- 
Indridi H. Indridason
Professor

Department of Political Science
900 University Avenue
University of California, Riverside
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USA

e-mail: indridi.indridason at ucr.edu
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homepage: http://indridason.politicaldata.org