The Trump administration is reviving a visa rule that never saw the light of day after former President Joe Biden shelved the proposal back in 2021, setting the stage for a fresh immigration battle.
In a statement released recently, the Department of Homeland Security said the proposal is aimed at tackling what the Trump administration describes as “visa abuse.” The move would give authorities more oversight of certain visa categories, covering foreign students, academics, and even medical professionals.
The U.S. government is set to shorten the duration of visas granted to international students and journalists, signaling a major change in travel and work regulations. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on Wednesday that F-type visas, which let international students live and study in the country, will now have a maximum validity of four years.
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“Under President Trump’s proposed rule, the federal government would set the authorized admission and extension periods for foreign students and exchange visitors up to the duration of the program they are participating in, not to exceed a 4-year period,” the DHS stated.
The latest rule takes direct aim at so-called “forever students,” a label used for those who keep enrolling in courses to extend their stay in the U.S. DHS underscored that foreign students where many of them are from India and have until now been able to remain almost indefinitely under this system. The shift could disproportionately affect Indian students, who form one of the largest groups in American universities and often pursue long academic tracks like doctorates or back-to-back programs. For them, tighter limits may mean constant visa renewals, added scrutiny, and greater uncertainty about completing their education in the U.S.
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U.S. officials argue that students who stretch their stay this way not only strain taxpayer resources but also put American citizens at a disadvantage, while raising potential security concerns. The Department of Homeland Security said, “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.”
Under the Trump administration’s proposal, even visas for media professionals would be capped at 240 days, with possible extensions of the same duration, though never beyond the period of their reporting assignment. “The rule would set the initial admission period for foreign media representatives at up to 240 days. Foreign media representatives would be eligible for an extension period of up to 240 days, but no longer than the length of the temporary activity or assignment.” the DHS stated.
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For decades, students entering the U.S. on F-type visas have been admitted for what’s known as “duration of status,” meaning they could remain in the country as long as they were enrolled full-time. This system allowed them to avoid repeated vetting or renewal checks. The latest move seeks to change that, though the rule is still at the proposal stage and not yet finalized.
Reflecting on how it is going to affect the international students, Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA said, “it will certainly act as an additional deterrent to international students choosing to study in the United States, to the detriment of American economies, innovation, and global competitiveness,” in a statement as shared by Politico.
The proposal comes amid already mounting delays, with visa interviews on hold and heightened scrutiny slowing the flow of students into the U.S. Just last week, Bloomberg reported that international arrivals dipped in July to under 79,000, a 28% drop, with Asian travelers particularly from India and China bearing the brunt of the decline. Immigration expert says if this rule passes, it will definitely result in significantly less F-1 visa applications.