US new immigration rule threatens stay of over 3 lakh Indian students on F-1 visa, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new immigration rule impacting over 3 lakh Indian students on F-1 visas.
• The rule eliminates "duration of status (D/S)" and caps the authorized stay for international students at a maximum of four years.
• Students pursuing longer degrees will now need to formally petition the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an extension of stay.
• The post-graduation grace period for departure or status change has been halved from 60 days to 30 days.

Detailed Insights:

• The new regulation fundamentally alters how international students maintain lawful status in the US, moving from an open-ended "duration of status" to a fixed admission period.
• Previously, F-1 visa holders could stay as long as they complied with their academic program, with extensions handled by their educational institution.
• The US government states the change aims to restore integrity to the immigration system, combat visa abuse, and strengthen national security through regular vetting.
• The rule will also affect related issues such as Optional Practical Training (OPT), requiring students to ensure their F-1 status remains valid throughout any OPT period.
• While OPT itself is not eliminated, the interaction between the fixed admission period and OPT or STEM OPT extensions requires further guidance from DHS and USCIS.
• As of January 2025, approximately 300,000 Indian students were in the US, predominantly in graduate STEM programs.

Key Concepts Involved:

• F-1 Visa: A non-immigrant visa for international students pursuing academic studies in the United States.
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): A cabinet department of the U.S. federal government responsible for public security.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): An agency within the DHS that administers the country's naturalization and immigration system.
• Duration of Status (D/S): A previous provision allowing foreign students to stay in the US for the duration of their academic program without a fixed end date.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT): A temporary employment program for F-1 visa students to gain work experience directly related to their major field of study.