For years, USCIS has protected the status of students and exchange visitors by limiting when they begin to accrue “unlawful presence,” which can subject them to a 3 or 10 year bar to re-entering the United States. These students would not accrue unlawful presence unless there had been a formal finding of status violation by USCIS. On May 10, 2018, however, USCIS reversed its position and announced a major change. Under the new policy, which will take effect on August 9, 2018, F, J, and M nonimmigrants who fail to maintain their status will trigger accrual of unlawful presence on the day after a violation of status occurs, regardless of whether USCIS has formally found the status violation. The new policy also applies to dependent family members in F-2, J-2, or M-2 status. Other triggers under the existing policy remain unchanged. These same individuals will also accrue unlawful presence after completion of the authorized course or program and allowable grace period, expiration of the I-94 and grace period, or an order of removal by an immigration judge. The change in policy reflects a continuing trend of the government to limit benefits to all immigrants, including students who contribute immensely to the economy by attending U.S. colleges, universities, and other training institutions.