Washington DC, Sept. 15 -- Just a day before the US Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) new rule restricting the duration of visas for foreign students, researchers, professors, instructors and journalists was set to take effect, a federal judge has postponed its implementation, finding that DHS failed to comply with requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act.

US District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, in a memorandum and order dated September 14, granted a motion brought by organisations representing colleges, universities, educators and communications workers, postponing the effective date of the Final Rule pending a final resolution of the case on its merits.

The ruling challenged a July 17 DHS rule that sought to replace th...