US Plans Limit Foreign Student, Exchange Visas to Four Years

The Trump administration has proposed a new rule to limit the duration of visas for foreign students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives to curb visa abuse and enhance federal oversight. Under the proposal, F visas for international students would be capped at a maximum of four years, while J visas for exchange visitors and I visas for media members would also have fixed limits, with media visas capped at 240 days and 90 days for Chinese nationals. This marks a shift from the previous 'duration of status' system, which allowed indefinite stays as long as visa holders remained enrolled or employed in the U.S., a practice the administration argues has led to misuse by so-called 'forever students.' The proposed changes aim to allow immigration officers to periodically reassess visa holders' compliance with immigration laws and reduce burdens caused by overstays. The public has a 30-day window to comment on the proposal, which revives a similar measure initially introduced in 2020 but withdrawn by the Biden administration. Critics, including international educator groups, have opposed the rule, warning it could create new hurdles for legitimate foreign students and exchange workers.