Harvard University has issued a clear advisory to its foreign students and academic scholars: consider returning to the United States before September 15. The guidance comes in response to impending regulatory changes by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding F-1 and J-1 non-immigrant visas. These upcoming policy shifts could significantly alter how long international students are permitted to remain in the country and how their entry is processed.
At the core of the proposed reform is the elimination of the long-standing “duration of status” (D/S) framework. Under the current system, eligible international students can remain in the US indefinitely, provided they maintain active enrollment and comply with immigration rules. Under the new guidelines, however, the D/S model will be replaced by a fixed period of authorized stay. Incoming students will receive a specific “Admit Until Date” on their Form I-94 arrival record, establishing a rigid timeframe for their permissible stay based on their academic program’s planned length.
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The timing of a student’s travel around the September 15 deadline is crucial. Students who are physically present in the US and maintaining valid status prior to the implementation date are expected to be protected under temporary transition rules. Conversely, those who travel internationally and attempt to re-enter the US on or after September 15 will likely fall under the new fixed-date system. Consequently, leaving the country late in the summer could unintentionally subject returning students to stricter stay conditions and administrative burdens.
