In a major update regarding student visas, the US is now planning to limit the duration of stay for international students by reviving a Trump-era rule.
If implemented, it would scrap the current “Duration of Status” system for F-1 and J-1 visa holders. That means no more open-ended stay while you study.
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Instead, students would be given a fixed date that is 2 to 4 years from their approval. After that, they’ll need to apply for extensions, adding more forms, more fees, and more chances to lose status.
Today, F-1 students can stay in the US as long as they remain enrolled or are on OPT (Optional Practical Training). From undergrad to grad to STEM OPT, they just update their I-20 and continue.
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However, after this proposed rule change, if their programme gets extended or doesn’t finish by the required date, there’s no automatic extension.
PhD students fear they will be hit the hardest as most of them don’t finish in 4 years. If their allowed stay ends mid-research, they may be forced to leave the country, reapply, and hope for a visa again just to finish their degree.
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Universities slammed this rule in 2020 but Biden scrapped it. However, now Trump’s back in charge, and he’s pushing it again.
For Indian students who bet their futures on an easy and smooth academic path in the US, this could be a nightmare they weren’t prepared for.
