International students heading to the United States for higher education are facing a new hurdle as part of updated visa and university policies. Under the changes, newly admitted students on F-1 visa will be required to complete at least one full year at their initial institution before they can transfer to another university, limiting flexibility and altering plans for those hoping to switch schools early in their academic journey.
The new rule is set to take full effect within the next one to two months and will primarily impact students who typically begin their studies in the U.S. during the fall semester in August.
The updated rules also prevent students from pursuing multiple degrees at the same level like consecutive master’s programs without leaving the U.S. and reapplying for a new visa. Graduate students will no longer have the option to switch programs or universities after arriving in the U.S. They are required to remain enrolled at the institution listed on their I-20 form at the time their visa was approved.
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Another significant update affects the post-OPT period. Students completing their Optional Practical Training (OPT) will now have only 30 days to stay in the U.S. after their authorization expires, down from the previous 60 days.
Nishidhar Reddy Borra of Atlas Consultancy, a leading foreign education consultant in Hyderabad, India, noted that many Indian students often apply to top-tier universities with higher fees to simplify visa approval, only to transfer to smaller, lower-cost schools once in the U.S. He added that such practices will now be permanently curtailed, as per The Hindu.
Perhaps the most notable change is the new limit on F-1 visa validity. Rather than being granted for the entire “duration of status” as before, F-1 visas will now be valid for a maximum of four years. Students who exceed this period will need to leave the U.S. and obtain a new visa to return. This also affects those moving from bachelor’s to master’s and then to PhD programs, who may now have to secure fresh visas at each stage of their studies.
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The new rules are likely to make the U.S. a more restrictive destination for international students, particularly from India. Already, recent immigration data shows a noticeable drop in the number of students arriving this year. With tighter limits on transfers, shorter OPT grace periods, restrictions on pursuing multiple degrees, and a four-year cap on F-1 visas, many students may rethink their plans or seek alternatives in other countries. These changes could reduce the flexibility and appeal that the U.S. has traditionally offered, potentially leading to a further decline in applications and enrollments.
Again, such policy updates are a sharp contradiction to what the president recently said. He mentioned that he likes international students coming to the United States. “I like that their students come here. I like that other countries’ students come here.’’ Trump stated in a video recently shared by Reuters. Also, the fact that without international students, U.S. colleges and universities will suffer was highlighted in that video.