Duration of Status Final Rule Clears OMB
Once published, new rules typically take effect within 60 days.
As previously reported by the Office of International Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is advancing a rule (“Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media”) that would significantly impact the F, J, and I nonimmigrant visa programs. Most notably, the proposed rule would eliminate “Duration of Status (D/S)” and replace it with fixed-date admission to the U.S.
On June 17, 2026, the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) posted that it had completed its review of the final rule. The next step will be for DHS to send the rule to the Office of the Federal Register for publication. Once published, the final rule will go into effect 60 days later.
We will not know the details of the final rule or the extent to which it differs from the proposed rule until it is available for public inspection. The final rule will be available for public inspection at least one day prior to being published in the Federal Register.
Once the final rule is publicly available and analyzed, OIS will provide detailed guidance on next steps and host virtual question-and-answer sessions for our community. In addition, a page on the OIS website will be created to share information and answer frequently asked questions. Until then, students, scholars, and alumni can connect with an OIS advisor via email or by scheduling an appointment. Please note, however, that actionable guidance cannot be provided until the final rule is published.
The Office of International Services is committed to fostering a supportive environment for international students, scholars, and employees at UIC. We will continue to monitor this situation very closely and will notify the entire UIC international community and our academic colleagues as soon as the final rule is available.
Please note that the information shared in this message is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.