US colleges urge F-1 and J-1 visa holders to return by September 15 as new rules loom

According to a report by NDTVWorld, international students who are currently outside the United States on academic breaks have been advised by their universities to return by September 15 to stay within the existing immigration framework.

The alert, which also affects Indian students, comes ahead of a final rule by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that will replace the longstanding Duration of Status (D/S) system for F and J visa holders.

Under the new framework, international students will be admitted to the US for a fixed period of up to 4 years, rather than being allowed to stay for the duration of their academic program.

Columbia University said in a notice to students: “This final rule has a 60-day implementation period. We encourage all students to return to New York before classes begin on September 8, 2026.”

The DHS rule establishes a four-year maximum stay for F-1 student visa holders, J-1 exchange visitor visa holders, and foreign journalist I visa holders. It will also reduce the post-graduation grace period from 60 days to 30 days and require students seeking an extension to apply through Form I-539 with USCIS.

The rule is set to go into effect on September 15. However, students who are already in the U.S. under the current D/S system on that date will be allowed to remain until the program termination date listed on their Form I-20 or the end of their approved Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT, provided they continue to maintain their academic status.

The changes are expected to affect hundreds of thousands of international students, including many Indians, raising fears of uncertainty about future study and work plans.

Khanderao Kand, head of policy and strategy at the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), criticized the proposal, calling it a “self-inflicted blow to US competitiveness”.

He argued that the four-year cap did not reflect the reality of higher education.

“The four-year cap doesn’t correspond to how modern degrees actually work. The median time to complete a bachelor’s degree is about 52 months, while a doctorate takes about 5.7 years. USCIS is already dealing with processing times of about a year,” Kand said.

He warned that students could be forced to leave before completing their programs, disrupting research and weakening America’s innovation ecosystem.

FIIDS also warned that uncertainty over visa extensions could disrupt labs, delay graduations and complicate faculty recruitment. Many research-intensive programs, including doctoral studies, medical training, and J-1 research appointments, typically require 5 to 7 years.

Kand urged the administration to delay implementation of the rule.

“If the goal is to strengthen the integrity of immigration, it should be done without disrupting the learning pathways that power America’s labs and startups,” he said.