US Proposes Four-Year Limit on Student Visas, Sparking Backlash
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The United States government has unveiled a controversial proposal to cap student visas at four years, ending the longstanding “duration of status” policy that has allowed international students to remain in the country for the entirety of their studies.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the plan on 27 August, arguing it would curb “visa abuse” and strengthen oversight of foreign students, professors and exchange visitors. Under the rule, students would need to apply for extensions if their courses exceeded four years or if they pursued Optional Practical Training after graduation.
Critics, however, have warned that the changes represent a dangerous overreach. “These changes will only serve to force aspiring students and scholars into a sea of administrative delays at best, and at worst, into unlawful presence status,” said NAFSA CEO Fanta Aw.
The proposal also restricts programme changes, preventing master’s students from switching courses and barring first-year students from transferring universities. English-language learners would be limited to less than two years of study, while the post-study grace period for F-1 visa holders would be halved from 60 to 30 days.
Stakeholders argue that the reforms ignore the reality of US higher education, where the average time to complete an undergraduate degree exceeds four years. “International students deserve assurance that their admission period will conform to their academic programmes,” said Miriam Feldblum of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, warning the move would deter students and diminish US competitiveness.
DHS has defended the proposal by citing national security concerns, claiming that thousands of visa holders have remained in the US for more than a decade without completing studies. Yet critics note that such cases are negligible compared to the 1.6 million F-1 visa holders currently in the country.
The announcement comes as the United States is already grappling with a 30% drop in student arrivals this summer, with universities fearing billions in economic losses. Sector leaders caution that further restrictions risk accelerating the decline in international enrolments, undermining the US’s global standing in higher education.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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