The US visa rule finalized by President Donald Trump’s administration caps most foreign students and exchange visitors at four years. It also caps foreign journalists at 240 days.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the final rule in Washington on Thursday, July 16. It replaces the long-standing “duration of status” system for F, J, and I visa holders with fixed admission periods.
Students and exchange visitors will receive admission for their programme’s scheduled duration or four years, whichever is shorter. If they require more time, however, they must apply to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services for an extension. Alternatively, they may leave the country and seek readmission.
Foreign journalists will receive stays of up to 240 days. Journalists carrying passports issued by mainland China will face a 90-day limit, excluding Hong Kong and Macau passport holders.
The rule is scheduled to take effect on September 15, which is 60 days after its July 17 publication in the Federal Register. However, DHS said the date could change following the required congressional review.
Students already living in the United States under the previous system will automatically transition to fixed periods. Their stay will generally end on their programme completion date. Alternatively, it will end four years after the rule takes effect, whichever comes first.
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The final rule also reduces the departure period for newly admitted F-1 students from 60 to 30 days. It restricts when students can change academic programmes, majors or institutions, particularly at the graduate level.
DHS said fixed periods would improve oversight and allow immigration officials to assess compliance more regularly. However, higher-education groups argue that international students already undergo extensive monitoring. They also claim the change will create additional costs and administrative delays.
