The Trump administration has proposed a new rule that would limit the length of time foreign students can study in the United States.
The rule targets visas for foreign students, cultural exchange programs, and foreign media, following aggressive actions on student visas and a continued crackdown on some international students alleged to have broken the law.
Currently, foreign students on F visas can stay in the U.S. for the entire duration of their studies, regardless of length. Under the proposed rule, the admission period for foreign students and exchange visitors would be fixed at “up to the duration of the program they are participating in, not to exceed a four-year period.”
The rule would maintain the 60-day period after completion of studies during which students can either take steps to maintain legal status or depart the U.S.
For foreign media, the rule sets the admission period at up to 240 days, with the possibility of extending it for the same length.
A DHS spokesperson stated, “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 amounts of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens.” The spokesperson added that the 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.”
The State Department has also strengthened rules for vetting student visas in recent months. More than 6,000 student visas have been revoked this year for overstaying or legal violations, including assault, driving under the influence, burglary, and support for terrorism. This number is nearly four times higher than during the same period last year.
In June, the State Department instructed its embassies and consulates to vet student visa applicants for “hostile attitudes towards our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.”
