New US visa rule could change how long international students can stay in the country

The White House has cleared a final regulation that could significantly change how international students maintain legal status in the United States, paving the way for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to replace the long-standing “duration of status” system with fixed periods of stay for student and exchange visitor visa holders, according to a report by Bloomberg Law.

Currently, students on F visas are generally allowed to remain in the US as long as they continue their academic programme and comply with visa conditions. Under the new framework, students would instead receive a fixed period of authorised stay and may have to seek extensions from immigration authorities if their studies continue beyond that period.

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The regulation, which has completed review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is one of the final steps before formal publication and implementation. It would apply to F visa holders, J exchange visitors, I visa holders and their dependants.

What changes for students

The proposed rule would end the existing “duration of status” policy that allows students to stay in the US for the length of their academic programme.

Instead, most students would be granted a fixed admission period, widely expected to be four years, after which they would need to apply for an extension if they have not completed their studies.

The proposal also seeks to tighten flexibility available to students during their academic journey.

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Concerns for universities and Indian students

The development comes at a time when international students are already facing increased scrutiny in the US immigration system.

Indian students, who make up the largest international student cohort in the US, according to the Open Doors report, could face greater uncertainty over completing their degrees, pursuing long-term research programmes and planning their post-study pathways if the rule comes into effect.

The DHS first proposed the changes in 2025, reviving a policy idea that had been pursued during the first Trump administration but was never implemented.

With the White House review now complete, the final rule appears closer to becoming official policy.