The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a proposed rule to eliminate “Duration of Status” (D/S) for J-1 Exchange Visitors (EV), replacing it with a fixed-date admission period.

While this rule is not yet finalized and the specific details are still under review, FSIS is monitoring the situation and taking proactive steps, so departments can prepare for the  potential changes. 

If finalized, DS-2019 extensions would shift from an internal FSIS update to a formal, fee-based application with USCIS. This change would transition a process that currently takes days into one that could take several months to process. 

To prepare for this shift, our office intends to implement the following changes:

• Revising Extension Deadlines: Because extensions will likely require USCIS approval, FSIS plans to move up deadlines for all DS-2019 Extension Requests.
• Request for Maximum Duration: For both initial and extension requests, please consider requesting the longest appointment date possible for which funding is currently secured.
• Early Extensions: If you plan for a current J-1 EV’s program to continue beyond their current DS-2019 end date and funding is confirmed for the extension duration, we encourage you to submit an extension request. We will process these under current rules to maximize the J-1’s status.
• Travel Notification: It is imperative that J-1 EVs keep FSIS and their respective departments notified of any upcoming travel, as this may affect their admit until date on their I-94 record. 

FSIS will provide detailed guidance and updated deadline dates as soon as the final rule is published. Please reach out to me if you have preliminary questions regarding these transitions.