Trump administration has proposed a new rule to end foreign student visa abuse. Foreign students will have to leave the US after completion of their course.
The new rule will limit the amount of time that foreign students, professors, physicians, and other visa holders are allowed to remain in the United States without additional screening and vetting.
New Proposed Rule
Under President Trump’s 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 4 years.
Foreigners will need to apply for authorization to extend their stay with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), therefore requiring regular assessments for the foreigner to remain in the U.S. for a longer period.
Impact on Students
The Trump Administration’s proposed rule, if finalized, would limit the length of time certain visa holders – including foreign students– are allowed to stay in the United States, thereby curbing visa abuse and increasing the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to properly vet and oversee these individuals.
Once students complete their program of study and any authorized period of practical training, F students have 60 days after completion of their program to leave the United States.
If foreign students wish to extend they stay in the United States, they will have to apply to change status to another visa status like H-1B-temporary worker or O-extraordinary ability in science, art or business visa.
Ankit Mehra, CEO of GyanDhan says, “Those pursuing long-term research programs like Ph.D.s, where the duration often exceeds four years, will be most affected, while all students will face additional scrutiny during extension requests, a process many would prefer not to navigate.”
“The new proposal introduces more uncertainty, more paperwork, and more risk for students who’ve already invested heavily in their U.S. education.
If passed, this rule would make studying in the U.S. a far less flexible and far more stressful prospect for thousands of Indian students. It could even affect their long-term future, making it harder to build careers or imagine any real path to growth in the U.S.,” adds Mehra.
Current Rule on Duration of Status
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.
The Trump Administration believes that the foreign students have taken advantage of this rule and have become ‘forever’ students, perpetually enrolled in higher education courses to remain in the U.S.
DHS proposes to amend its regulations by changing the admission period of F, J, and I foreigners from ‘duration of status’ to an admission for a ‘fixed time period’. Duration of status means you may remain in the United States so long as you maintain your non-immigrant student status.
This new rule proposed by US authorities will force non-immigrants such as students holding an F-1 study visa to depart the country after a fixed period.
Does that impact the popularity of the US for Indian students? “Indian students are increasingly outcome-driven and adaptable, and I don’t see this denting the US’s strong appeal for those targeting cutting-edge research, innovation ecosystems, and global careers.
At the same time, students are naturally expanding their horizons, with destinations like Germany, Ireland, the UAE, Italy, and France viewed not as alternatives but as parallel opportunities that combine affordability, post-study clarity, and global exposure,” says Akshay Chaturvedi, CEO & Founder, Leverage Edu.