New US visa rule may limit student stays

# Proposed U.S. Visa Rule Could Reshape Future for International Students

A major change to U.S. immigration policy could soon transform how international students maintain their legal status, with the federal government moving closer to replacing a decades-old system that has governed student visas for generations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has received approval from the White House to move forward with a proposed regulation that would eliminate the long-standing "Duration of Status" (D/S) framework used for F-1 student visas, J-1 exchange visitors, and certain other nonimmigrant categories.

For decades, the Duration of Status system has allowed international students to remain in the United States as long as they maintain full-time enrollment, make satisfactory academic progress, and comply with all visa conditions established by their educational institutions.

The proposed regulation would fundamentally change that approach.

Instead of remaining in the country for the length of their academic program, most international students would receive a fixed period of authorized stay—expected to be limited to four years in most cases.

Students whose degree programs extend beyond that period would no longer receive automatic authorization to remain enrolled. Instead, they would be required to submit formal extension requests to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before their authorized stay expires.

The proposal is expected to have particularly significant implications for Indian students, who represent one of the largest international student populations studying in American universities.

Education experts say graduate students, doctoral candidates, researchers, and students pursuing lengthy STEM programs could be among those most affected because many of these academic pathways routinely require more than four years to complete.

Under the current system, universities have greater flexibility to manage academic timelines through institutional documentation and immigration reporting systems.

The proposed rule would shift much of that authority to the federal government, requiring additional USCIS review before students can legally continue their studies.

Universities and higher education organizations have expressed concern that the changes could introduce additional administrative burdens, longer processing times, and greater uncertainty for international students planning multi-year academic careers.

Many institutions also worry that increased government oversight could discourage talented students from choosing the United States as their preferred destination for higher education.

Another major concern involves Optional Practical Training (OPT), the program that allows eligible international students to gain work experience in the United States after graduation.

While the proposal does not eliminate OPT, immigration experts say fixed admission periods and additional extension requirements could complicate participation for students whose academic programs or work authorizations extend beyond the initial admission period.

The proposal also introduces stricter compliance requirements.

Under existing regulations, students generally receive certain grace periods after completing their programs or changing immigration status.

The new framework could significantly shorten those grace periods while allowing unlawful presence to begin immediately once an authorized stay expires if extensions have not yet been approved.

Critics argue that delays in government processing—rather than student misconduct—could place thousands of students at risk of unintentionally violating immigration rules.

Supporters of the proposal, however, argue that fixed admission periods would strengthen immigration oversight, improve consistency across visa categories, and provide greater accountability within the student visa system.

The proposed regulation has completed White House review and is expected to proceed toward formal publication in the Federal Register.

Before taking effect, the rule would undergo additional regulatory procedures, including publication and implementation timelines established by federal agencies.

Until a final regulation is officially published and becomes effective, the current Duration of Status framework remains fully in place.

International students currently studying in the United States continue to maintain their status under existing immigration regulations, and universities are advising students to follow current visa requirements while monitoring future policy developments.

If implemented, the proposal would represent one of the most significant changes to U.S. international student immigration policy in decades, potentially reshaping how hundreds of thousands of students plan their education, research, and careers in the United States.

As universities, immigration attorneys, and student organizations closely monitor the rulemaking process, the debate highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing immigration enforcement with America's long-standing role as one of the world's leading destinations for international education and research.