NewsFlash! Court Postpones Effective Date of Rule Ending Duration of Status

A federal district court in Massachusetts has postponed the effective date of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule that would eliminate the duration-of-status (D/S) framework for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and certain I nonimmigrants. The rule, titled “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media,” had been scheduled to take effect on 15.Sep.2026. The court’s order in Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al. postpones the rule’s effective date while the litigation proceeds.

Accordingly, the longstanding D/S framework remains in place for now. Individuals and institutions should continue monitoring the litigation and agency announcements, because the court’s order does not resolve the legal challenge on the merits and the rule could be reinstated or otherwise modified later. Murthy Law Firm is reviewing the decision and will provide further analysis. The final rule is available at Federal Register final rule.

Copyright © 2026, MURTHY LAW FIRM. All Rights Reserved