DHS Ends Indefinite Student Visa Stays, Changing Of Programs And Colleges

Photo: Voice of America

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The Trump administration has announced a final rule ending the long-standing “duration of status” policy for foreign students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives, replacing it with fixed periods of admission and requiring federal approval for visa extensions.

The rule is expected to have significant implications for Indian students, who make up the largest international student population in the United States. According to the latest Open Doors Report, there were about 360,000 Indian students enrolled in U.S. institutions during the 2024–25 academic year, accounting for nearly 31 percent of the approximately 1.1 million international students in the country.

Under the new regulation, students seeking additional time to complete their academic programs must obtain approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), submitting formal documentation, biometric data, and undergoing background and fraud checks as part of the extension process.

The final rule applies to nonimmigrant visa holders in the F, J, and I classifications and is intended to strengthen immigration oversight, reduce visa fraud, and enhance national security through regular government vetting, the Department of Homeland Security said.

Under the new regulation, students on F visas and exchange visitors on J visas will be admitted for the length of their specific academic or exchange program, with a maximum stay of four years. DHS said the move replaces a system that has allowed many students to remain in the United States indefinitely by maintaining student status.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the previous system, in place since 1978, had weakened immigration oversight. He said foreign students had been admitted indefinitely for decades, allowing some to become “forever students” by repeatedly enrolling in courses to avoid leaving the country.

Besides introducing fixed admission periods, the rule transfers authority over student visa extensions from designated school officials to the federal government. Students requiring additional time to complete their studies must file an Extension of Stay application with USCIS, where they will be subject to biometric screening, background checks, and fraud reviews.

The regulation also reduces the grace period for F-1 students after completing their studies from 60 days to 30 days. During this period, students may prepare to depart the United States, transfer to another educational institution, or apply to change their immigration status.

In addition, the rule places new restrictions on changes to academic programs, although DHS did not provide further details in its announcement.

According to DHS, current F, J, and I visa holders already in the United States under the existing duration of status framework will automatically transition to the new system. Their authorized stay will be capped at a maximum of four years from the rule’s effective date.