US revives plan to set time limits on international students holding F-1 and J-1 visas

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revived a previously shelved Trump-era proposal to limit how long foreign students and exchange visitors can stay in the country, renewing policy discussions that could affect thousands of Indian students.

According to a Bloomberg report, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency under DHS that handles visa programs, has sent the draft regulation to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. This is the final step before a federal rule is made public for feedback or implementation.

Currently, international students on F-1 visas and exchange visitors on J-1 visas can stay in the US for the full length of their approved academic or cultural exchange programs—commonly referred to as a "duration of status" policy.

In 2020, the Trump administration had introduced a rule to change this open-ended system. The proposal aimed to cap visa durations to two or four years, requiring students and exchange visitors to apply for extensions if their programs lasted longer. That version faced resistance from higher education institutions and was never enforced. It was formally withdrawn by the Biden administration in 2021.

The latest proposal, under review now, carries the same title as the 2020 version, signalling that it may include similar restrictions. University associations had earlier argued that fixed-term visas would "cause needless disruption to academic programs."

If approved, the rule could increase uncertainty for international students, especially those in longer degree programs or those who need additional time for research, internships, or unforeseen delays.

The administration has not yet confirmed when the rule will be released for public comment.