Trump Administration Proposes New Limits on Foreign Student Visa Duration

UNITED STATES - The Trump Administration announced a proposed rule on Wednesday that would establish time limits for certain visa holders in the United States. The rule targets foreign students, professors, physicians, and other visa categories currently operating under indefinite stay periods.

Current System Under Review

Foreign students holding F visas have been admitted to the U.S. under "duration of status" designation since 1978. This classification allows individuals to remain in the country for an unspecified period without additional screening or vetting requirements.

The proposed changes aim to address what officials describe as system abuse and oversight challenges.

"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. "This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S., easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history."

Proposed Changes

Under the new rule, the federal government would establish specific time limits for different visa categories:

Foreign Students and Exchange Visitors:

• Initial admission periods would match program duration
• Maximum stay limited to four years
• Extensions available through formal application process

Foreign Media Representatives:

• Initial admission period up to 240 days
• Extension periods up to 240 days
• Duration cannot exceed length of temporary assignment

Enhanced Oversight Requirements

The proposed system would require visa holders to apply for authorization through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend their stays. This process would enable regular assessments by the Department of Homeland Security.

Officials indicate this approach would improve oversight capabilities within the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

The changes would provide better access to necessary information and reduce the total number of individuals on indefinite visa status.

Background

The Trump Administration initially proposed similar measures in 2020. The Biden Administration withdrew the proposal in 2021.

The current announcement represents a renewed effort to implement time-based limitations on certain visa categories and establish regular review processes for extended stays.