Officials are determining the effects to the international student community after the Department of Homeland Security posted a final rule last week limiting how long international students can stay in the country on their visas.

The new rule effectively ends the longstanding duration of status policy, which allowed international students to stay in the U.S. for as long as it took to complete their academic program, by limiting the lawful status of F-1 and J-1 visa holders to four years and introducing new restrictions on changes like transferring institutions, changing majors and program extensions. Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs Terry Murphy said in an email that officials are assessing the impacts of the rule, but added that it’s too early to ascertain the full implications on the international student community.

“International students are important members of the GW community,” Murphy said. “They contribute to our academic mission and research enterprise, while enriching our community in countless ways. We remain committed to supporting our international students and scholars and providing updates as additional information becomes available.”

Murphy said officials will continue to support international students’ academic pursuits through the University’s existing offices while following the appropriate laws and regulations. GW’s International Services Office posted guidance last week detailing the new limits and directing students to contact ISO or their personal immigration law counsel for issues specific to their situation.

The rule, which will go into effect on Sept. 15 after a 60-day implementation period, prohibits current and prospective undergraduate F-1 and J-1 students from transferring institutions, changing majors or programs during the first academic year of study. It also completely prohibits graduate F-1 and J-1 students from transferring institutions or changing academic programs at any point during their course of study. 

Under the rule, international students are no longer permitted to “repeat” an academic level — students must move “upward,” and are not able to obtain second bachelor’s or master’s degrees. The DHS announcement of the policy maintains that student visa extensions are only available through “rigorous vetting.” 

The rule comes after Murphy filed a public comment in September urging DHS to withdraw the proposed rule, citing its potential impact on enrollment, research output and resources at the University.

Murphy said in her comment students’ academic paths are “rarely linear,” and the rule would set harmful constraints on students’ ability to explore multiple disciplines, dual degrees and varying career paths. She said international students are key to innovation in science, technology and security and contribute to the expansion and quality of the University’s research. 

Murphy added in her comment that complying with the rule would require significant institutional investment, necessitating additional hiring, extensive training and increased legal support — costs she said institutions and students would have to endure. She said the expected increases in extension filings would strain already backlogged processing times, leaving students in limbo and disrupting research timelines, grant-funded projects and staffing plans. 

A University spokesperson said GW continues to evaluate the rule’s operational impact, adding that it is too early to project its impact on the University’s future enrollment, operations or financial planning.

In their online update, the ISO said they are no longer able to grant program extensions due to the rule, and all requests must be submitted through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, but directed students that immediate action was not necessary due to the 60 day implementation period.

“The ISO team is fully prepared to support you, review your individual academic timeline, and help you map out a secure path forward,” the website reads.

The changed rule is the Trump administration’s latest change to immigration and visa policies impacting higher education after the State Department announced last summer that international student visa applicants would undergo “comprehensive” vetting and social media screening of all applicants. Prior to last academic year, Vice President and Dean of Enrollment and Student Success Jay Goff said dozens of international students would experience delays arriving to campus due to the Trump administration’s travel ban for citizens of 19 countries, prompting officials to launch an asynchronous start option for students experiencing delays. 

Goff told the Faculty Senate last summer the University could face a $10 million decrease in revenue because of declining international student enrollment. He told the senate in a December enrollment presentation the total international student population at GW declined from 3,673 enrolled in 2024 to 3,281 students enrolled in 2025 — close to an 11 percent decrease. 

University President Ellen Granberg told the Faculty Senate in January that graduate programs were experiencing “really significant declines” in international student enrollment, and officials instructed academic departments to prepare budget contingency plans. Officials announced in May the Board of Trustees approved $46.5 million reduction in the FY27 budget, prompted in part by declining international student enrollment due to Trump-era visa policies.

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