The email below was sent to international students and scholars in F and J status on July 24, 2026.
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Dear International Students and Scholars,
In follow-up to our note last week, we write to share with you now an initial summary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Final Rule on the ending of the “Duration of Status” policy. Our summary highlights the major changes that DHS will implement in September, and the transition guidance currently available for the MIT community.
In addition, we would like to make you aware of resources and upcoming MIT webinars that will offer additional information in the coming days.
Where to Access Up-To-Date Information
We have created a DHS Final Rule on “Duration of Status” (D/S) webpage as a central resource on this topic for the MIT community. As new information is released, we will post it to this page and email our international students and scholars. Please visit the webpage often to have the most up-to-date information.
Upcoming Webinars from MIT
MIT will be hosting webinars for the MIT community in the coming weeks leading up to implementation. We will post the dates and times, as they are set, on our D/S webpage (linked above) and will send out an email.
Save the date: the first webinar will be held on Thursday, July 30, from 11:00am to 12:00pm on Zoom (additional details will be emailed to the MIT community soon).
We understand that news of this change in DHS policy may be unsettling for many members of our international student and scholar community and for others across MIT who support you. We see you and are committed to assisting you.
There are still a number of questions to be answered that will depend on communications/guidance from various U.S. government agencies prior to the implementation of these changes. MIT will notify the community of any updates as they become available. Please know that the ISO, ISchO, and many additional MIT offices are focused on this policy and its potential impact, and will continue to support our entire community.
If any questions arise, please do not hesitate to contact the ISO or ISchO. We look forward to supporting you on this issue over the coming weeks and months.
Please review the summary online.
Sincerely,
David C. Elwell, Associate Dean and Director, MIT International Students Office
Amanda Doran, Director, MIT International Scholars Office