Brown University has expressed firm opposition to a proposed regulation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would end the long-standing “duration of status” policy for international students and scholars. Under the current system, holders of F-, J-, and I-visas are permitted to stay as long as they maintain valid status and make progress toward their academic goals. The new rule would instead assign fixed time limits to these visas, requiring renewals and additional oversight.
Critics—including Brown—argue that this change would introduce financial and administrative burdens, reduce academic flexibility (especially for graduate students switching majors or degrees), and undermine the U.S.’s appeal as a destination for global talent. The proposed rule could force students to navigate complex extension procedures, restrict program changes, and adhere to stricter timelines, all of which may discourage prospective international scholars from choosing the U.S. for their studies.
