WASHINGTON, Aug 28: The Trump administration announced a proposed rule on Wednesday that would limit the time international students can remain in the United States for their studies to four years. The rule, which is set to be published on Thursday, aims to reduce how long certain visa holders, including foreign students, can stay in the country. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the proposal is intended to curb “visa abuse” and improve the agency's ability to "properly vet and oversee these individuals."

The DHS argues that foreign students have "taken advantage of U.S. generosity" by staying enrolled in schools longer than necessary to extend their stay in the country. The agency claims that past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. indefinitely, which poses safety risks, wastes taxpayer money, and disadvantages U.S. citizens. A DHS spokesperson emphasized that this new rule would address these issues by limiting the time certain visa holders can remain in the U.S., thus easing the burden on the government to monitor foreign students.

Since 1978, foreign students (F visa holders) have been allowed to stay in the U.S. for the "duration of status," meaning as long as they are enrolled as full-time students. Under the new rule, foreign students and exchange visitors would be allowed to stay for the duration of their program, but no longer than four years. This would be less time than it typically takes to pursue advanced degrees beyond a bachelor's.

Additionally, the proposed rule would set an initial admission period for foreign journalists at up to 240 days. Journalists could apply for an extension of up to another 240 days, but the total length of their stay would not exceed the duration of their assignment. DHS believes that requiring regular assessments for foreigners to remain in the U.S. would allow for better oversight and reduce the number of people on visas in the country.

However, this proposal may have financial implications for U.S. colleges, as foreign students generally pay higher tuition and receive fewer scholarships. Experts have voiced concerns that the new rule could deter international students from studying in the U.S., ultimately affecting the economy, innovation, and global competitiveness. Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, warned that the rule would likely harm American institutions by decreasing international enrollment.

This proposal mirrors one that was initially introduced under the Trump administration in 2020 but was withdrawn by the Biden administration in 2021. DHS noted that the delay in implementing this rule has been detrimental to U.S. citizens and taxpayers. The new rule is part of a broader effort to tighten oversight of foreign students and other visa holders, including professors, physicians, and media representatives, in a bid to prevent further visa abuse.