This document provides a summary of the Department of Homeland Security’s September 25, 2020, Proposed 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.”
The summary explains the changes DHS is proposing to make for the admissions process for individuals obtaining:
- student visas (F visas).
- exchange visitor visas (J visas).
- or visas for representatives of foreign information media (I visas).
These changes include eliminating “duration of status” periods of admissions, transitioning current students and exchange visitors to new fixed periods of admission, revising the process for obtaining extensions of status, and subjecting nationals of specific countries, primarily African, to restrictions on the maximum period of admission.
The summary also explains proposed changes to the employment authorization process and to Optional Practical Training (OPT) that would be imposed following the end of duration of status admissions, as well as provides an overview of other changes that would be imposed by the rule.
