The Trump administration is planning to place a four-year time limit on student visas in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday. If finalised, the proposal would end the current system that allows international students to remain in the country for an indefinite period as long as they are enrolled in a program.
According to the release, the proposed rule seeks to bring foreign student visas in line with other categories of temporary visas by capping the length of stay and requiring applicants to seek extensions when needed. Currently, most students enter on an F visa under a “duration of status” policy, which has been in place since 1978. That arrangement allows them to stay for as long as they are enrolled, without a fixed end date.
A spokesperson for the DHS said in the release that the current system makes it difficult for the government to properly track visa holders. “For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” the spokesperson said.
Under the proposed changes, the authorised admission period for foreign students and exchange visitors would match the duration of their academic programme, up to a maximum of four years. Extensions beyond that period would require approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
DHS officials argue that the changes would improve oversight by requiring regular assessments of visa holders and ensuring better access to information through programs like the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
This proposal was first floated under the Trump administration in 2020 but was later withdrawn by the Biden administration in 2021. The government has indicated its intention to bring the program back with the recent statement, pointing to national security, accountability, and equity for American residents as the main justifications.
