The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed rule to eliminate duration of status (D/S) for F students and their dependents, J exchange visitors and their dependents, and I media representatives is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Friday, September 25, 2020.
Students from some countries will also now be subjected to a limited 2-year admission instead of a 4-year admission due to heightened concerns related to fraud, abuse, and national security.
Among the countries targeted in the new policy are those on the US “State sponsor of terrorism list” and students from countries that visitors have overstay rate of more than 10%. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2019 overstay report puts Nigeria’s in-country overstay rate at 11.12%.
Also, instead of being admitted for “duration of status” (D/S) as they currently are, individuals applying for admission would now be admitted for the length of time indicated by the program end date noted in their Form I-20 or DS-2019, plus a period of 30 days following their program end date.
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