Thousands of international students studying in the United States will no longer be allowed to remain in the country indefinitely while pursuing their education after the Donald Trump administration issued a final rule limiting most student visas to four years.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the regulation on Thursday, July 16, formally ending the long-standing “duration of status” policy that had allowed certain foreign students, exchange visitors and foreign media representatives to remain in the country for an open-ended period tied to their academic programme.
According to DHS, the changes are aimed at addressing what the agency described as abuse of the student visa system, with some foreign nationals allegedly remaining in the country for extended periods by continuously enrolling in academic programmes.
US Caps Most Student Visas at Four Years Under New Trump Administration Rule. Photo: Courtesy.
Under the new rule, holders of F and J visas will be admitted for the duration of their specific academic programme, subject to a maximum stay of four years.
Students who require more time to complete their studies will be required to apply for an Extension of Stay through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) instead of relying on approvals through their educational institutions.
The extension process will include biometric screening, background checks and additional fraud assessments conducted by federal authorities.
The new regulation also shortens the grace period for F-1 students after completing their studies from 60 days to 30 days.
During that period, graduates must either leave the United States, transfer to another institution or change their immigration status.
Additionally, the rule introduces stricter requirements for students seeking to change their academic programmes, adding new compliance measures within the student visa system.
The changes are set to take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, with current visa holders expected to transition automatically to the new framework.
The new policy will apply broadly to affected international students and exchange visitors covered under the F and J visa categories, replacing the previous open-ended system with fixed periods of authorised stay.
