Contact: NAFSA Media Relations, [email protected]
Washington, D.C., July 6, 2021 – Today, the Department of Homeland Security officially withdrew its proposed rule to eliminate duration of status (D/S) for F students and J exchange visitors. The following is a statement by Dr. Esther D. Brimmer, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
“NAFSA is pleased that today, the Biden Administration officially withdrew the proposed rule to eliminate duration of status (D/S) for F students and J exchange visitors. We have been working toward this outcome since October 2018 when the proposal to eliminate D/S first appeared on the Regulatory Agenda. DHS received more than 32,000 comments during the proposal’s public comment period last fall, including thousands from NAFSA’s advocates, and NAFSA’s own comment letter that urged DHS ‘to withdraw this poorly conceived rule from consideration.’”
We urge the administration to continue its efforts to make the United States a more welcoming place for international students and scholars through the following policies:
- Restore the perception of the United States as a welcoming destination for international students, scholars, and researchers, and make this goal a priority for the State Department and embassy outreach.
- Establish a coordinated U.S. recruitment strategy to proactively attract a diverse pool of talented individuals from around the world.
- Extend current dual intent policy to international students in F status to allow them the opportunity to remain in the United States after completing their program of study.
- Create a direct path to lawful permanent residence (green card) for international graduates of U.S. colleges and universities.
“NAFSA will continue to guard against changes in policy that will harm U.S. competitiveness for international students and scholars while zealously advocating for laws and policies that welcome them.
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About NAFSA: Serving more than 10,000 members and international educators worldwide, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. Visit us at www.nafsa.org/press. To learn more about our advocacy efforts on behalf of international education, visit www.nafsa.org/takeaction. Resources to guide our members on these issues can be found at www.nafsa.org/reginfo.