The Trump administration announced new rules on Wednesday imposing strict time limits on visas for international students, exchange visitors and foreign journalists, ending a longstanding policy that allowed many to remain in the United States for an undefined period known as "duration of status."
Under the Department of Homeland Security regulation released July 16, students and exchange visitors will generally be limited to a maximum of four years. Foreign journalists will be admitted for up to 240 days, or just 90 days for Chinese nationals. Graduate students will be barred from changing programs without authorization, and the grace period for departing after completing studies is cut from 60 to 30 days. The rule takes effect September 15.
The government cited concerns over visa overstays, noting it found more than 2,100 individuals who entered as students between 2000 and 2010 and still held student status. The State Department said in June it had revoked more than 100,000 visas, including 8,000 students, since January 2025. The U.S. admitted more than 1.8 million student visa holders in 2024, an 11 percent increase over the prior year.