On July 17, 2026, Vice Provost Colleen Murphy and Assistant Provost Martin McFarlane sent the following message to international students and scholars:
Earlier today, the Department of Homeland Security issued changes to F-1 and J-1 regulations in the Federal Register. Among these changes are the elimination of Duration of Status (D/S), which outlines the length of time that individuals in F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrant status are permitted to be in the United States, and new restrictions on program changes.
International Student and Scholar Services is currently reviewing the new regulations in detail to fully understand the changes and how they impact members of our international community. ISSS will follow up with additional communications directly to those affected as soon as we have a fuller understanding of the information released. Members of our international community may review the regulatory changes issued by DHS for general information.
We understand that changes to immigration rules and regulations cause distress and anxiety for all members of our international community. We want to emphasize that you are welcome and wanted here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Our diverse and talented international population is part of what makes our university exceptional. ISSS will continue to communicate, advocate, and support all members of our international community as we navigate these changes.