In a recent reflection published in Canal MyNews, Marcelo Gorenstein, Senior Director, Latin America at LCR Capital Partners, explores how a new DHS rule is reshaping the timeline for Brazilian students in the United States. Starting September 15, F-1 and J-1 visa holders will no longer benefit from open-ended “duration of status.” Instead, their I-94 will carry a fixed expiration date of up to four years, after which an extension must be requested. Gorenstein argues that this shift turns what once felt like a bureaucratic detail into a real strategic pressure point, since for students who see graduation as a beginning rather than an end, the clock is now running visibly. He points to the EB-5 investor visa as a direct path forward, since 2022 legislation allows applicants to file the investor petition (I-526E) and adjustment of status (I-485) together, gaining work authorization while the case is processed. He cautions, however, that letting status lapse before filing can push someone into consular processing outside the United States. His takeaway is that the biggest mistake he’s seen in nearly a decade isn’t choosing the wrong visa. It’s starting too late.
