The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized a regulation that eliminates Duration of Status (D/S) for F-1 student visa holders, particularly affecting those utilizing Day-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for employment. This regulation aims to tighten oversight on student visa programs and is expected to have significant implications for thousands of international students and their employers.
Key Details:
- The regulation requires stronger proof that employment is integral to the academic program, limiting work authorization loopholes.
- F-1 students will no longer be able to re-enroll at the same or lower educational level to restart CPT.
- The grace period after program completion will decrease from 60 days to 30 days.
- Unlawful presence will begin accruing automatically once the fixed date expires, which may trigger 3 and 10-year bars.
This regulation raises compliance standards significantly, potentially limiting or shutting down programs that do not meet the new academic legitimacy criteria. Affected F-1 students and their employers will need to seek alternative paths for employment authorization.
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Source: Danielle Goldman