The Trump administration has finalised new restrictions on international students that will limit how long they can remain in the United States and make it more difficult to change courses or transfer between educational institutions.
Under the rules, students and exchange visitors will generally be admitted for the length of their academic programmes, up to a maximum of four years. Those requiring additional time will have to apply to the federal government for an extension.
The changes, which are due to take effect on September 15, will replace the long-standing “duration of status” system. That arrangement allowed holders of F-1 student visas and J-1 exchange visas to remain in the country for as long as they maintained their immigration status and continued their studies.
Universities and colleges previously played a central role in approving programme extensions and overseeing transfers. The new framework will introduce additional federal scrutiny while restricting students’ ability to switch programmes or move between institutions.
The Department of Homeland Security said the policy “combats rampant visa abuse, and strengthens national security through regular vetting”.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said: “For decades, foreign students have been admitted into the US indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse our immigration system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the US.”
The administration argues that establishing fixed admission periods will allow authorities to screen and monitor visa holders more regularly while preventing people from remaining in the country through repeated enrolment.
However, education organisations have warned that the four-year limit could create significant difficulties for students enrolled in lengthy academic programmes.
Although most undergraduate degrees in the US can be completed within four years, doctoral programmes and other graduate-level courses frequently require longer periods of study. Research delays, funding shortages and personal circumstances can also extend the time needed to complete a degree.
International students make up a particularly large proportion of postgraduate enrolments in science, technology and other research-focused disciplines, where students may need additional time to conduct experiments and publish their findings.
The rules will also reduce the period students are allowed to remain in the US after completing their studies. F-1 visa holders will have 30 days to leave the country or change to another immigration status, compared with the previous 60-day grace period.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a non-profit organisation that advises educational institutions on international enrolment, described the measures as “misguided and unnecessary”.
Its chief executive, Fanta Aw, said the new policy “injects uncertainty, bureaucracy, and fear into a system that has long worked effectively. It is a solution in search of a problem.”
The measures form part of the Trump administration’s wider effort to tighten legal immigration and reduce the number of foreign students studying in the US.
The administration has also attempted to limit international enrolment at some prominent universities and has moved to revoke the visas of students accused of participating in activities that conflict with US foreign-policy interests.
