| We have important and encouraging news. Yesterday, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a nationwide order postponing the Department of Homeland Security rule that would have ended Duration of Status for international students and exchange visitors. The rule was scheduled to take effect today. It will not. What this means The DHS rule ending Duration of Status has been temporarily blocked nationwide and will not take effect as scheduled. F students and exchange visitors will continue under the existing Duration of Status framework for now. The legal case is ongoing, and the government may appeal, so further changes remain possible. Students should continue working closely with their campus teams and avoid making decisions based on speculation. Shorelight will monitor developments and share updated guidance. This matters deeply to the students we serve and to our university partners. For more than four decades, Duration of Status has given international students and researchers the stability and flexibility to maintain their lawful immigration status for as long as they need to complete their academic programs. Replacing that framework with a fixed period would have introduced significant uncertainty, cost, and disruption to their educational journeys. In his opinion, the judge was quite forceful about why the rule could not stand. He found that DHS failed to conduct a reasoned analysis of the rule’s costs and benefits. He also found that the agency did not seriously consider less burdensome alternatives proposed by commenters. Finally, he found no rational connection between the rule and the national security rationale offered by the government, noting that the government’s own examples involved only a small handful of individuals among the tens of millions of students who have studied in the U.S. under this framework over four decades. The order is important, but it is not the end of the story. The rule has been postponed while the case continues, and we expect the government to appeal. A great deal could still change. Our responsibility is to remain steady and clear. Students should stay informed, continue working closely with their campus teams, and avoid making decisions based on speculation. Our Legal and Government Affairs teams will continue monitoring the case and share guidance as developments occur. Despite the uncertainty this rule has introduced, the U.S. remains the most welcoming place in the world for international students to study, conduct research, and build their futures. At Shorelight, our mission is to expand access to international education and help students navigate an increasingly complicated world. We will continue supporting them, standing alongside our university partners around the globe, and advocating for policies that welcome international talent, wherever that talent comes from. For more information, visit our FAQ page at Shorelight.com. |
| Best regards, Shorelight |
