WASHINGTON, DC — THE United States is moving to end what it describes as one of the last major loopholes in its immigration system by imposing fixed periods of stay for foreign students, exchange visitors and international media representatives.
In a statement issued today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule eliminating the long-standing "duration of status" policy, which allowed certain nonimmigrant visa holders to remain in the United States for as long as they continued to meet the conditions of their visa, without having to periodically seek approval from federal immigration authorities.
The new rule establishes a fixed period of admission for holders of F (student), J (exchange visitor) and I (foreign media) visas. According to the DHS, the change is intended to strengthen immigration oversight, reduce visa abuse and enhance national security through regular vetting.
"This decisive shift restores integrity to the nation's immigration system, combats rampant visa abuse, and strengthens national security through regular vetting," the department said.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the previous system had remained in place for nearly 50 years and created opportunities for abuse.
"For nearly half a century, the outdated 'duration of status' system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud," Mullin said. "For decades, foreign students have been admitted into the U.S. indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse our immigration system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the U.S."
He added that introducing fixed time limits would allow immigration authorities to more effectively screen, vet and monitor foreign nationals while ensuring students remain focused on completing their studies before returning home.
Under the new regulations, F visa students and J visa exchange visitors will be admitted for the duration of their approved academic or exchange programme, subject to a maximum stay of four years.
The rule also introduces several other significant changes, including:
Mandatory federal extensions: Students needing additional time to complete their programme must apply directly to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an Extension of Stay. Applications will be subject to biometric screening, background checks and fraud reviews.
Shorter grace period: The period for F-1 students to remain in the United States after completing their studies, transferring schools or changing immigration status will be reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
Restrictions on programme changes: The rule introduces tighter controls on students seeking to change their academic programmes.
According to DHS, the regulation will be published in the Federal Register within the coming days and will take effect 60 days after publication.
Current F, J and I visa holders already residing in the United States under the existing "duration of status" framework will automatically transition to the new system, with their authorised stay capped at a maximum of four years from the rule's effective date.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will continue overseeing schools and international students through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which tracks compliance with U.S. immigration requirements.
The policy marks one of the most significant changes to the administration of student and exchange visitor visas in decades, shifting oversight from educational institutions to federal immigration authorities through mandatory periodic review of visa holders' status.
