Trump Administration Proposes Four-Year Time Limits for Foreign Students in the United States

The Trump Administration announced a sweeping proposed rule on Wednesday that would fundamentally alter how foreign students, exchange visitors, and media personnel are allowed to remain in the United States, introducing fixed time limits for the first time in nearly five decades.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the proposed rule that, if finalized, would limit the length of time certain visa holders – including foreign students – are allowed to stay in the United States, marking a dramatic shift from current immigration policy.

Since 1978, foreign students (F visa holders) have been admitted into the U.S. for an unspecified period known as “duration of status.” Unlike other visas issued, those with a “duration of status” designation are allowed to remain in the U.S. for an indefinite amount of time without further screening and vetting.

Under the proposed rule, the federal government would set the authorized admission and extension periods for foreign students and exchange visitors up to the duration of the program they are participating in, not to exceed a 4-year period.

The change would require foreign students, exchange, and foreign media classifications admitted for a fixed period of time to apply for authorization to extend their stay with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), therefore requiring regular assessments by DHS for the alien to remain in the U.S. for a longer period.

The proposed rule extends beyond students to affect foreign media representatives. The rule would set the initial admission period for foreign media representatives at up to 240 days. They would be eligible for an extension period of up to 240 days, but no longer than the length of the temporary activity or assignment.

The proposed rule extends beyond students to affect foreign media representatives. The rule would set the initial admission period for foreign media representatives at up to 240 days. 

DHS officials framed the proposal as addressing what they characterize as widespread abuse of the current system. “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 untold amount of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” said a DHS spokesperson.

The administration claims that foreign students have taken advantage of U.S. generosity and have become “forever” students, perpetually enrolled in higher education courses to remain in the U.S.

The proposed changes are designed to strengthen government oversight of foreign nationals in the United States. This would allow DHS to conduct proper oversight as part of SEVP and SEVIS by making access to necessary information more accessible and reducing the number of individuals here on visas.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) are existing DHS programs that monitor foreign students and exchange visitors.

This proposed rule was first proposed under President Trump in 2020 but was withdrawn by the Biden Administration in 2021, according to DHS. The current announcement represents a revival of the previous administration’s immigration enforcement priorities.

DHS will accept public comments for 30 days on the new proposal after it is published in the Federal Register, giving stakeholders and the public an opportunity to provide input on the proposed changes.

Current Students

For students currently in the United States, F and J visa holders present in the U.S. on the proposed rule’s effective date would be allowed to stay for up to four years without applying for an extension of status.

The changes could significantly impact international students pursuing advanced degrees, doctoral programs, or multiple degree programs that often extend beyond four years. Universities and educational institutions have not yet issued formal responses to the proposed rule.

The proposal comes amid broader immigration policy changes by the Trump Administration and represents one of the most significant alterations to student visa policy in decades. If implemented, the rule would require thousands of current international students to navigate new extension procedures to continue their studies in the United States.

This story is based on AI surveyed official Department of Homeland Security announcements and Federal Register filings and edited by American Kahani news desk. Top photo: representative image by Wonderlane on Unsplash.