The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed new rules that would restrict the length of time foreign students, cultural exchange participants, and journalists are allowed to stay in the US. The proposed changes aim to crack down on “visa abuse” and facilitate the government’s ability to “vet and oversee” foreign visa holders.
According to the DHS, the new rules would limit F visas for students to four years, J visas for cultural exchange to four years, and I visas for reporters to 240 days, with the chance to extend.
Journalists from China would be limited to just 90 days in the country. The proposed time caps come as the Trump administration seeks to place greater restrictions on all forms of immigration.
The administration has accused international students of using their visas to stay in the country indefinitely. “Foreign students have taken advantage of US generosity and have become ‘forever’ students, perpetually enrolled in higher education courses to remain in the US,” the DHS said in its news release.
However, the proposed changes have sparked concerns that international students could be disadvantaged by the time restrictions. While four years is the length of a typical undergraduate university program in the US, some PhD programs can last longer.
Research opportunities, changes in degree track, and other circumstances can also affect the time it takes to complete an academic diploma.
Foreign students also play an outsized role in the financing of US higher education, since they are often subjected to higher fees than their US counterparts. About 1.6 million international students were studying in the US on an F visa in 2024.
The Trump administration has sought to place foreign students under greater government scrutiny. Earlier this year, it also announced it was temporarily suspending all student visa applications.
When appointments began again in June, the administration said it would increase monitoring of social media activity during the application process.
Thousands of student visas have also been revoked since Trump took office for a second term in January. Some have been rescinded as a result of student participation in political activity such as pro-Palestine protests.
In one example, the administration arrested and moved to deport a Turkish PhD student named Rumeysa Ozturk after she co-authored an op-ed in her student newspaper calling for her campus to sever ties with Israel amid that country’s devastating war in Gaza.
The proposed changes have raised concerns about the impact on international students and the US higher education system. The DHS said the new time caps would encourage visa-holders to apply to extend their stay, thereby allowing for the department to conduct “regular assessments” to weigh their continued stay in the US.
The outcome of this proposal remains to be seen, but it is clear that the Trump administration is determined to crack down on “visa abuse” and increase scrutiny of foreign nationals in the US.
As the situation unfolds, it will be important to monitor the impact on international students and the US higher education system.
In related news, the Trump administration has been criticized for its handling of immigration and visa policies. Many have argued that the administration’s policies are overly restrictive and have a negative impact on international students and scholars.
The proposed changes to foreign student visas are just the latest example of the administration’s efforts to tighten immigration policies.
The US has long been a popular destination for international students, with many drawn to its world-class universities and research opportunities. However, the Trump administration’s policies have created uncertainty and anxiety for many international students and scholars.
As the situation continues to unfold, it will be important to monitor the impact on the US higher education system and the country’s reputation as a global leader in research and innovation.