Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 16: The Donald Trump administration has introduced a major overhaul of US student immigration policy by replacing the long-standing "duration of status" system with a fixed four-year stay limit for international students and exchange visitors.
Under a new rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), students on F visas and exchange visitors on J visas will be permitted to remain in the United States only for the duration of their academic programme, subject to a maximum stay of four years.
Students requiring additional time to complete their studies, including most doctoral candidates and medical residents, will have to apply for an extension through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), submit biometric information and pay the prescribed fee.
The new policy marks one of the most significant changes to student immigration rules in decades.
Students already present in the United States when the rule comes into force will be assigned a fixed programme completion date along with a grace period, instead of being required to leave immediately.
However, those who remain in the country beyond the permitted period without obtaining an extension will begin accruing unlawful presence, making them liable for three-year or 10-year bans on re-entering the United States, depending on the duration of their overstay.
The rule abolishes the "duration of status" system that has been in place since the early 1990s, under which student visa holders were allowed to remain in the country as long as they maintained their academic status without a fixed expiry date on their immigration records.
The Department of Homeland Security said the revised system would strengthen national security and improve oversight by enabling authorities to review compliance with visa conditions at regular intervals.
The move comes as the Trump administration continues to tighten scrutiny of foreign students.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked hundreds of student visas, including those of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk.
The administration has said the action targets individuals accused of supporting Hamas, while lawyers representing the students argue they are being penalised for engaging in constitutionally protected speech.
The new regulation revives a proposal first introduced during President Trump's previous term, when it faced strong opposition from universities and medical organisations, which argued that the changes would impose unnecessary administrative burdens on students pursuing long-term academic and professional programmes.
The Department of Homeland Security first proposed the rule in August 2025 and submitted the final version to the White House Office of Management and Budget in May this year. The budget office approved the regulation on June 17, clearing the way for its implementation.
The rule is scheduled to take effect on September 15, although Congress retains the authority to delay or overturn it under the review process applicable to major federal regulations.
The DHS has also included a severability provision, allowing the remainder of the regulation to remain in force even if individual sections are struck down by a court.