US sector welcomes withdrawal of proposed Duration of Status rule

The PIE News

Viggo Stacey

July 7, 2021

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced it will withdraw a Trump-era proposal to eliminate duration of status for international and exchange students coming to the country.

The proposed rule change from September 25, 2020, would limit the time international students can remain in the country.

Bodies such as EnglishUSA have previously said that without guarantee that they will be able to complete their academic path, many international students will opt to study in alternative study destinations.

DHS also received 32,000 public comments on the proposed rule change, of which less than 1% expressed support for the proposed rule, according to the government.

The 99% of commenters opposing the rule argued it discriminates against certain groups of people based on their nationality as well as that it would “significantly burden” international and exchange students.

They also noted the cost of the extension of stay application fee would “impose exorbitant costs and burdens” on students and scholars, the Federal Register noted.

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