For nearly 50 years, international students could stay in the United States as long as they continued to make progress in their programs. No fixed deadline. A PhD candidate who needed a sixth year could take it. A doctor could finish a residency and move into a fellowship. An adviser at the school made that call.

On September 15, that ends. Students arriving after that date get a firm expiration date — four years at most — and must file a formal application, with a fee, to stay any longer. The government hasn't said how it will decide those applications, or how long they'll take.

Immigration attorney Dan Berger joins Lauren Clarke to explain who this reaches, what happens if you miss a deadline, and why he expects a court challenge within weeks.

Resource Links:

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-does-the-new-duration-of-status-rule-mean-for-international-students-and-workers/

https://www.internationalstudent.us/

GUEST: Dan Berger, Partner, Green & Spiegel

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

INTERVIEW RECORD: Tuesday 7/28/26 @ 17:30 ET