By Online Editor
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping change to the country’s student visa policy, introducing a four-year limit on how long most foreign students and exchange visitors can remain in the country unless they obtain federal approval for an extension.
The new regulation, unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), replaces the long-standing “duration of status” system, which allowed international students to remain in the United States for the entirety of their academic programmes as long as they complied with the conditions of their visas.
The policy applies to holders of F-1 student visas and J-1 exchange visitor visas and is expected to affect thousands of international students enrolled in American colleges and universities.
According to DHS, students whose degree programmes extend beyond four years—including many bachelor’s degrees and most doctoral programmes—will now be required to apply for an extension before completing their studies.
The department acknowledged that the new requirement could create additional administrative hurdles for students, particularly those enrolled in programmes that traditionally take longer than four years.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the policy was designed to strengthen immigration enforcement, reduce visa overstays and close loopholes that could be exploited for immigration fraud.
“The previous system made it more difficult to monitor compliance and weakened immigration controls,” Mullin said while defending the new rule.
However, education stakeholders have criticised the decision, warning that it could discourage talented students from choosing the United States as a study destination.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators described the policy as unnecessary, arguing that it would create uncertainty and additional bureaucracy for international students.
Its Executive Director, Fanta Aw, warned that the measure could further complicate efforts by American universities to attract foreign students at a time when global competition for international enrolment is increasing.
Example of the type of real quote to obtain: “The new policy makes it difficult to plan long-term academic programmes because students won’t know whether an extension will be approved.”
For many prospective students from countries such as Nigeria, the policy is expected to increase concerns about studying in the United States, particularly for those pursuing programmes that typically exceed four years.
The announcement comes as U.S. universities continue to navigate stricter immigration policies that have reshaped international student admissions in recent years.
