Foreign students in US will have limited ‘duration of status’, 4-year cap on visas

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced a proposed rule that, if finalised, would limit the length of time visa holders, including foreign students, are allowed to stay in the United States.

The changes will apply to academic students (F), exchange visitors (J), and representatives of foreign media (I), as per Department of Homeland Security.

“For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the US virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantageous US citizens,” said a DHS spokesperson. 

“This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the US, easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history,” he added.

Since 1978, foreign students have been admitted into the US for an unspecified period known as “duration of status”. Unlike other visas issued, those with a “duration of status” designation are allowed to remain in the US for an indefinite amount of time without further screening and vetting.

Under  Trump’s proposed rule, the federal government would set the authorised admission and extension periods for foreign students and exchange visitors up to the duration of the programme they are participating in, not to exceed a 4-year period. 

The rule would set the initial admission period for foreign media representatives at up to 240 days. Foreign media representatives would be eligible for an extension period of up to 240 days, but no longer than the length of the temporary activity or assignment.

Additionally, admitting foreign students, exchange, and foreign media classifications for a fixed period of time would require said aliens to apply for authorisation to extend their stay with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), therefore requiring regular assessments by DHS for the alien to remain in the US for a longer period.