DHS Submits Proposed Rule on Duration of Status
As previously announced by our office in November 2018, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) previously notified the public of its intention to release a proposed rule that would replace the current “duration of status” (D/S) admission period with a “maximum period of authorized stay”, and options for extensions, for each applicable visa category, which would apply to F-1 students, F-2 dependents, and potentially J-1 exchange visitors and their J-2 dependents.
On June 3, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) submitted for review a proposed rule that re-visits this matter and seeks to establish a maximum period of authorized stay, and options for extensions, for all international students, exchange visitors, and their dependents under the F and J nonimmigrant visa categories. As DHS is required by law to utilize notice-and-comment rulemaking and consider and respond to public comments before finalizing any rule, the exact timing of any final rule impacting the current “duration of status” (D/S) admission period is currently unknown.
OIS will continue to monitor DHS’s possible rulemaking impacting the “duration of status” admission period, and will update UIC international students and the international community accordingly. Again, if you have any questions or comments about this announcement, please feel free to contact us at ois@uic.edu or (312) 996-3121.