Trump administration caps lengths of US stays on student visas

Key Points:

• The Trump administration finalized a rule limiting international students to a maximum of four years in the U.S. without federal approval, effective September, marking a departure from previous policies that allowed students to stay for the duration of their academic programs.
• The rule also restricts when and how students can change their major or academic program, reducing the flexibility currently granted under existing regulations.
• Higher education leaders oppose the rule, citing increased administrative burdens and concerns that it may deter international students, who often pay full tuition and contribute significantly to universities and the economy.
• DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated the rule aims to close loopholes exploited by students extending their studies and to improve the government's ability to monitor visa holders.
• This policy is part of broader Trump administration efforts to tighten controls on international students, including social media screening requirements, travel bans, and previous abrupt terminations of student statuses, contributing to a decline in international student enrollment in the U.S.