The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a rule that would replace the current “duration of status” system for academic visas with a fixed four-year limit for F-1 students. Currently, students on F-1, J-1, and I visas may remain in the U.S. as long as they comply with visa requirements and make academic progress. The proposed rule would impose a strict time limit regardless of the length of students’ degree programs.

On September 29, 2025, ASLA submitted formal comments urging DHS to reconsider the proposal. The letter emphasized the far-reaching consequences for students, universities, and professional fields such as Landscape Architecture, which rely on the contributions of international talent.

Many accredited universities offer five-year undergraduate programs, particularly in fields such as Landscape Architecture, Architecture, and Engineering. These programs are intentionally designed to provide rigorous academic training alongside practical experience, preparing students to become licensed design professionals who protect public health, safety, and welfare. At least a dozen U.S. Landscape Architecture programs require 4.5–5 years of study. Under the proposed rule, students in these programs would need to apply for extensions midway through their studies, creating unnecessary administrative hurdles and uncertainty in their academic journey.

The rule also impacts students in the optional practical training program (OPT) and STEM OPT, which allow students to gain valuable work experience in the United States after completing a university academic program. Students in the OPT program may need to apply for an extension to complete the work experience part of their visa.

ASLA is concerned that this rule would discourage international students from pursuing these programs, weakening the pipeline of talent vital to research, innovation, and professional practice. Further, universities would need to dedicate significant resources to managing extension requests and other administrative functions.  ASLA will continue to advocate for policies that support landscape architecture university programs and preserve the educational pathways essential to the future of the profession.