Hunter
10/22/20
The University of Iowa and the Big Ten Academic Alliance are opposing a new change to the Code of Federal Regulations that would limit international students’ stays and require some to request costly extensions.
The Daily Iowan reports that the proposal, from the Trump Administration, was initiated on September 24th, and public feedback to the Department of Homeland Security closes this Sunday.
The UI and Big Ten say the additional costs and travel burdens would be detrimental to international students trying to complete their degrees. Michael Bortscheller, UI associate director of International Student and Scholar Services, says current regulations allow international students to stay in the US as long as they’re continually making progress towards their degree and are registered as full-time students. The proposed change would eliminate the opportunity for students who add a second major or encounter some delay in graduating to work with their schools to report to the government and have their stay automatically extended. Those students would instead have to apply to US Citizen and Immigration Services, including fees, and wait for approval.
Students from some countries would have to continually apply for extensions every two years. Bortscheller told the DI that if the proposal goes through, it would reduce the number of international students who want to come to the University of Iowa and other universities throughout the country.
