US student pipeline at risk: 49% of foreign students say they wouldn't have applied without duration of status

A new survey reveals that nearly half of international graduate students and postdoctoral fellows say they would have skipped enrolling in the US if the Duration of Status (D/S) system were abolished. The joint Institute for Progress and NAFSA survey reports that 49 % of current students responded they “would not have enrolled in the first place” under a fixed-term visa rule.

That figure comes alongside alarming signals about other proposed policy changes: 54 % said they would not have enrolled without Optional Practical Training (OPT), and 53 % said they would avoid the US if H-1B allocation were based on wage levels.

What is duration of status and how it works
Under D/S, F-1 and J-1 students may remain in the US as long as they make normal academic progress and comply with visa rules. Removing it would force fixed admission periods, requiring extensions even for standard degree timelines.

Survey demographics and fields
The survey covered 1,039 current students and postdocs. Among respondents, 49 % were PhD candidates, 26 % postdoctoral fellows, and many (35 %) were in physical or natural sciences, 19 % in biological and biomedical sciences, and 16 % in engineering—fields central to US research output.

Proposed changes driving deterrence
• Ending D/S: 49 % would not have enrolled without D/S flexibility.
• Eliminating OPT: 54 % said they would not enrol without the post-study work option.
• Changing H-1B rules: 53 % would avoid US programmes if H-1B visas were allocated by wage levels.
These responses indicate that many students view post-study mobility as critical to their decision to come to the US.

Additional deterrents beyond the survey
Other factors reducing appeal include visa interview delays and denials, social media screening, increased administrative processing, travel bans, rising SEVIS fees, reduced visa validity, and uncertainty over post-graduation pathways. Students also cite concerns about anti-immigrant rhetoric, safety risks, and dependent restrictions.

Implications for US enrolment and global standing
The survey data arrives amid steep declines in international student arrivals. For instance, arrivals from India fell nearly 46 % in July and 44 % in August compared to the prior year. Universities such as Saint Louis University saw 45 % fewer foreign students, while the University at Buffalo reported over 1,000 fewer international graduate students, mostly in STEM.

If D/S is ended, higher education institutions warn of enrolment losses, increased administrative burden, and potential research setbacks. The Association of American Universities notes that replacing D/S may cost the US between $72 billion and $145 billion annually—far above DHS’s own estimate.

This survey finding—that 49% of international students would have avoided the US without Duration of Status—underscores just how central visa flexibility is to attracting and retaining global talent. As D/S, OPT, and H-1B proposal changes loom, many prospective and current students may reconsider their decision to study or stay in the United States.