The Trump administration has proposed a new immigration rule that would limit how long international students and certain other visa holders can stay in the United States.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the proposed regulation — expected to be officially published on Thursday — seeks to cap student visas at a maximum of four years. Currently, international students on F visas are allowed to remain in the country for the entire “duration of status,” meaning as long as they are enrolled full-time in an approved program.
The DHS argued that the change is necessary to curb “visa abuse” and improve oversight of foreigners studying or working temporarily in the U.S. Officials said some students have exploited the system by enrolling indefinitely to prolong their stay.
“For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing security risks, costing taxpayers, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” a DHS spokesperson said. “This proposal would end that abuse and make it easier for the government to monitor foreign students.”
The new rule would also affect foreign journalists, who would be admitted for an initial 240 days, with the possibility of one extension, but not beyond the length of their assignment.
Education experts, however, warn that the plan could have negative consequences for American universities, which depend heavily on international students who pay higher tuition fees and have limited access to scholarships.
“This will deter international students from choosing the U.S. as a study destination, to the detriment of American innovation, competitiveness, and local economies,” said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, in a statement.
If adopted, the rule could significantly impact Nigerians and other foreign students pursuing postgraduate and doctoral programs that often extend beyond four years.
