DHS’s New rule: what it means for Approach students

Under the current system, international students are admitted for the “duration of status”, meaning for the duration of their studies, and don’t have a fixed departure date. Students are admitted and can stay in the U.S. for many years, as long as they remain enrolled and attending a full-time program. Schools have the authority to extend students' enrollment, and students have the freedom to transfer to other schools and educational levels as they wish.

DHS argues that this practice has led many students to use student visas to “live” in the U.S. and has made it difficult to track international students and to enforce immigration rules. The proposed rule was open for public comment until September 29, 2025, and the process of reviewing comments and publishing a final rule could take up to one year, as there are thousands of comments (which is common for rules affecting students and schools). DHS states that this rule will increase transparency and accountability, making it easier to measure the actual duration of students' stay in the U.S.

What changes are being proposed for F1 students?

1. Switching the admission length to the U.S. from “duration of status” to a fixed date corresponding to the length of the program the student will attend, to provide clear graduation timelines for students and for the government.

2. Limiting the enrollment per program level to 4 years in professional programs (colleges, universities) and to 2 years in English language programs to ensure that programs are used for genuine study;

3. Switching the decision on program extensions from schools to the government, requiring students to file a Form I-539 each time they need a program extension, to strengthen oversight, ensure consistency, and prevent student visas from being used to extend time in the U.S.

4. Limiting transfers and level changes, requiring students to complete the first academic year at their initial school before transferring and enrolling at the same or lower academic level, meaning a student who completes an ESL program at a school should bot be able to transfer to another school to study English, nor should a student in college transfer to a lower academic level program (ex. ESL) to ensure students are making upwards academic progress.

5. Reducing grace periods: After program completion or practical training, students would get a 30-day grace period (reduced from 60 days for degree programs) to limit the time students can stay in the U.S. without attending school.

6. Requiring all schools to be accredited in order to accept non-immigrant F1 students to protect bona fide students and ensure they are enrolled in high-quality programs.

How could that affect you at Approach?

At Approach, we are approved to offer programs at various educational levels, not only English as a Second Language. At the professional level, we offer a range of programs that you can pursue. Therefore, bona fide students should have no reason to be concerned. Once you graduate from ESL, depending on your educational goals, you may progress to a higher educational level program at Approach. You could choose to enroll in:

• AAP - Advanced academic preparation

• BP - Business program

• ESL TI - ESL teaching internship

• Any of our test preparation programs: GMAT, GRE, etc.

For complete information, read the Federal Register notice at (federalregister.gov) and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.