American varsities urge foreign students to return to US before new immigration rules come into effect

Several prominent U.S. universities are advising international students to return to the United States before September 15, when new federal immigration regulations are set to be implemented. These new rules will alter the long-standing 'duration of status' system, replacing it with fixed admission periods for students and exchange visitors holding F, J, and I category visas.

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Universities, including Harvard, Columbia, Ohio State University, Georgetown, George Washington (GW) and the University of Chicago, warned international students that the changes could affect the terms under which F-1 and J-1 students were admitted and allowed to remain in the country.

Institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, Ohio State University, Georgetown, George Washington, and the University of Chicago have alerted international students about potential impacts on the terms of their admission and continued stay in the U.S. Students planning international travel near the September 15 deadline are particularly advised to reassess their itineraries. Returning before this date could help students avoid being subject to the new fixed-period admission system.

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Those planning international travel around the September 15 deadline were also advised to reconsider their plans.

Harvard's International Office specifically recommended that F-1 and J-1 students and scholars plan their travel to ensure physical presence in the United States by September 15. Columbia University has set an even earlier target, requesting international students to return by September 8 to facilitate a smoother transition. Georgetown's Office of Global Services has issued targeted warning letters, while George Washington University's International Services Office advises students to monitor their university portals for updated program end dates after September 15.

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Harvard’s International Office specifically advised F-1 and J-1 students and scholars to plan their travel so that they were physically present in the United States by September 15.

The Department of Homeland Security's new rule will tie authorized stays to the length of a student's program, with a maximum initial admission period of four years. This change could significantly affect students in programs that typically exceed four years, such as doctoral, medical, and other professional degrees, who may need to apply for extensions. The University of Chicago's Office of International Affairs has hosted informational webinars to clarify the rule's limitations on academic mobility and the shortened 30-day grace period.

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Columbia University set an even earlier target, asking international students to return by September 8 to allow sufficient time for the transition.