Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Trump administration has finalised a sweeping new rule that will prevent international students and exchange visitors from staying in the United States for more than four years without seeking federal approval, scrapping a decades-old policy that allowed foreign nationals to remain for as long as they were making academic progress. The Department of Homeland Security announced the final rule on Thursday, July 16, 2026, describing it as a measure to combat "rampant visa abuse" and close what officials called a "loophole" that permitted students to become "forever students" by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid leaving the country. The rule, which takes effect in September, marks one of the most significant restrictions on international student visas in nearly half a century.
Under the new regulation, nonimmigrant students on F visas and exchange visitors on J visas will be admitted for the length of their specific academic programme, not to exceed a maximum period of four years. Those who require additional time to complete their studies must formally apply for an Extension of Stay directly through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, shifting oversight from university staff to federal authorities and subjecting applicants to biometric vetting, background checks, and fraud screenings. The rule also introduces strict limitations on academic changes, restricting students' ability to transfer schools or change majors without approval, particularly during their first year.
The grace period for students after graduation has been halved from 60 days to 30 days, giving international graduates less time to prepare for departure, transfer schools, or change visa status. The rule also applies to foreign media representatives on I visas, who will now be limited to stays of 240 days, with Chinese journalists facing a stricter 90-day limit. Current nonimmigrant visa holders residing in the United States under the previous "duration of status" framework will transition to the new system automatically, with their authorised stay capped at a maximum of four years from the effective date of the rule.
The rule eliminates the "duration of status" policy that had been in place since 1978, which allowed foreign students to remain in the U.S. for as long as they were making progress toward their degree or research purpose without a fixed expiration date. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the change, stating: "For decades, foreign students have been admitted into the U.S. indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse our immigration system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the U.S. By implementing clear, finite limits on these visas, the United States is reclaiming its ability to properly screen, vet, and monitor individuals within our borders".
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from higher education leaders and international education organisations, who have warned that the rule injects uncertainty and administrative burden into a system that has long functioned effectively. Zuzana Wootson, deputy director of federal policy at the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, described the action as "unnecessary and duplicative," noting that "international students are already among the most closely monitored nonimmigrant populations in the U.S.". Fanta Aw, chief executive of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said the new policy "injects uncertainty, bureaucracy, and fear into a system that has long worked effectively. It is a solution in search of a problem".
Higher education leaders have raised particular concern over the impact on graduate students, especially those in doctoral programmes, which typically take more than four years to complete. Boston University President Melissa Gilliam, in a letter submitted during the public comment period, noted that PhD students at BU take an average of nearly six years to complete their degrees and warned that the restrictions would put "critical research initiatives and teaching" in jeopardy. The rule also affects students pursuing optional practical training, the work authorisation for F-1 students following graduation, which typically extends beyond four years.
The rule comes amid a broader crackdown on international students under the Trump administration, which has included widespread terminations of students' legal status, increased visa costs, travel bans affecting more than a dozen countries, and a requirement for visa applicants to share their social media handles. International student enrollment has already declined by an average of 20 percent over the last year. The final rule, which received nearly 22,000 public comments during the proposal phase, is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register in the coming days and will go into effect 60 days after publication. The Department of Homeland Security has indicated that the rule is intended as a "law enforcement and screening tool" to assess whether students are maintaining normal academic progress and eligibility for F-1 status.
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