US President Donald Trump has finalised a new rule limiting most foreign students and exchange visitors to a maximum stay of four years in the country unless they obtain an extension from the federal government.
The long-standing “duration of status” policy, which permitted foreign students to stay in the US for the duration of their academic programmes as long as they met with visa requirements, is ending with the Department of Homeland Security’s new regulation.
Students with F-1 visas and exchange visitors with J-1 visas will be subject to the limitation.
The Department of Homeland Security expressed concern that some students might find it difficult to finish their academic programmes within the new timeframe, pointing out that many bachelor’s degrees require more than four years to complete, and doctoral programmes usually take even longer, according to The Washington Post.
According to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the modification was required to prevent visa overstays and bolster immigration enforcement.
“For nearly half a century, the outdated ‘duration of status’ system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud,” Mullin said.
However, NAFSA, the Association of Overseas Educators, criticised the policy, calling it needless and cautioning that it would cause uncertainty for overseas students.
“DHS’ decision to end duration of status is a misguided and unnecessary policy shift that injects uncertainty, bureaucracy, and fear into a system that has long worked effectively,” NAFSA executive director Fanta Aw said.
The new regulation comes as the Trump administration’s stricter immigration laws and visa restrictions continue to make it difficult for many US colleges and universities to draw in foreign students.
