Lucia Thomas | Managing Illustration Editor

WashU’s international students, who make up 26% of the student body, could face new hurdles in completing their degrees and post-graduation plans in the U.S. under a new federal rule limiting their time in the U.S. 

On July 17, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule replacing the “duration of status (D/S)” framework for F, J, and I visa holders established in 1952, with fixed periods of authorized stay. Although a federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the rule from taking effect on Sept. 15, many international students said the proposed changes have raised concerns about their academic plans and future employment.

Under this rule, international students would be admitted up to a maximum of four years, requiring federal approval to remain longer. Their admission records would specify an “Admit Until Date” (AUD) when their immigration status expires, beyond which students would need authorization to legally remain in the U.S. 

The breadth of the changes surprised Van Nguyen, a graduate student in the biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology program, who said she initially struggled to process the scope of the rule.

“I was very shocked,” Nguyen said. “My mind was kind of frozen for a little bit because this is a lot to take in.”

While litigation continues, the existing D/S framework will remain in place. Currently, F-1 students — the visa type for most WashU international students — can remain in the U.S. indefinitely given compliance with the requirements of their academic program, including authorized Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation. 

Students already in the U.S. under D/S will be allowed to remain until their current program ends or four years after the rule’s effective date, whichever comes first. However, if a student leaves the country, they will be given an AUD and 30-day grace period upon readmission. 

If students require more time to complete their program of study, they must affirmatively apply for an extension of stay (EOS) directly with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), pay filing fees, and complete biometrics.

Most doctoral students, medical students, and postdoctoral researchers, whose academic or research activities routinely exceed four years, would likely undergo this process. 

“Grad school is very unpredictable, and your timeline is very much dependent on if your experiments are going well [and] if you get to publish,” third-year PhD candidate Eylül Horozoğlu said. “With the current changes, it kind of feels like even being a graduate student is not really a safe position to be in.”

The rule would also shorten the post-completion grace period for F-1 students from 60 to 30 days. Lucas Salomão, a junior from Brazil studying computer engineering, questioned how international students would navigate the shortened timeline when employers may not be hiring at the moment students need to secure employment.

“What if companies just stop hiring for those 30 days, but will look for employees a couple [of] months after?” Salomão said. 

Even when international students find potential employers, the hiring process can take weeks. Salomão said that delays at each stage could quickly narrow the time available. 

“Let’s say I’m applying for jobs and they answer me in 10 days,” Salomão said. “Then I have an interview, and they’re processing me for 15 days. That’s 25 days, and I don’t have a job, and then I have five days left in the country.” 

Beyond the time limits, the rule would also restrict students’ ability to change academic programs and educational objectives. Undergraduate F-1 students could only change majors or transfer schools after completing one full academic year at their initial institution, unless an exception applies. Graduate students would not be able to transfer or change their subject area unless given authorization under specified circumstances. 

As international students grapple with the potential implications of the rule, questions remain about how WashU will respond and support those affected. 

Students interviewed said the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) sent out an assessment quiz intended to help international students review the rule independently. Tianran Liu, a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering from China, said the module provided useful information about graduation timelines, transfers, and changes in degree programs. Still, Liu said access to information had not eliminated her uncertainty.

“Sometimes you do feel helpless, even though you’re getting all this information,” Liu said. “I just still feel like I’m at a very vulnerable position.”

Horozoğlu, who has attended WashU for about eight years, said she was disappointed by the administration’s reluctance to speak publicly in support of international students.

“The silence of the administration is truly what hurts most,” said Horozoğlu.

Associate Vice Chancellor for University Communications Kedra Tolson declined to comment on the rule’s potential effects on currently enrolled students and what resources or support the university may provide. Geet Vanaik, the Executive Director of OISS, also did not respond to multiple requests for comment about available resources, potential effects on student retention, and university advocacy efforts.