LET THEM STAY!
TELL DHS TO STOP THE ATTACKS ON INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION
The public comment period on the DHS’s proposal has closed. AFT Academics and our national union, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), will continue to fight for international students and scholars, and keep you updated as new information becomes available.
Follow us on social media for updates on this and other important issues:
Twitter: @AFTacademics
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THE DHS PROPOSAL
CHANGES INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGE:
- Individuals applying to either F or J status would be eligible to stay in the United States for the length of time indicated by the program end date noted in their Form I–20 or DS–2019, not to exceed 4 years. In some cases, international students and scholars would be limited to 2 years.
- Currently, individuals in F and J categories can stay in the United States for the period of time that they are complying with the terms and conditions of their visa category (“duration of status”). “Duration of status” does not have fixed end dates.
- The amount of time that F-1 international students can stay in the United States after the end of their studies would decrease from from 60 to 30 days.
- Students could attend English language training for no more than 2 years total (including breaks and vacations).
- The proposed rule would also set limits on the ability for students who completed a 3 program at one education program to change to another program at the same educational level to no more than 2 additional times.
LEARN MORE
- READ THE FAQ from the Presidents’ Alliance and Penn State Law’s Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic
- READ THE FULL TEXT of the DHS proposed rule change
ORGANIZE!
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
For more information about the academic labor movement, and how you can get involved in our union and our campaigns, contact us!
AFT MEMBERS IN ACTION
“DHS threatening to submit international PhD students like myself to additional scrutiny just so that we can complete our academic studies only serves to deepen existing patterns of discrimination and exclusion in American higher education.”
IN THE NEWS
“Having a union is the most important way for international student workers to get heard and work to improve our working and learning conditions. This is especially important as the national political climate is turning against many of us, as shown in the overall tightening of student visa policy.”
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Regardless of immigration status you have the same rights under the NLRA (National Labor Relations Act) as other covered employees to:
- Organize or join a union
- Talk about working conditions
- Take action with your coworkers
