Trump Administration Implements New Strict Visa Policies for International Students in the US

The Trump administration in the United States has announced new stringent regulations for international students. Under the new policy, foreign students will no longer be allowed to remain in the US for more than four years without federal government approval. Additionally, there will be tighter restrictions on program changes within courses and transferring from one university to another. Currently, US higher education institutions have the authority to extend students’ visa durations.

This new policy will take effect starting September. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the measure aims to “prevent visa misuse and strengthen national security through regular monitoring.” However, the Association of International Educators has criticized the new rules as “unnecessary and misguided guidelines.” Previously, F-1 and J-1 exchange visa holders were permitted to hold visas until they completed their degrees, but the new regulations impose a strict time limit on this period.

Homeland Security Secretary Marquee Malin remarked, “For decades, international students were allowed indefinite stays in the US, resulting in thousands exploiting our immigration system by enrolling in multiple courses continuously and residing indefinitely.”

According to the new rules, international students will be allotted only 30 days to either return to their home country after graduation or obtain a different visa type, reducing the previous 60-day grace period. The nonprofit organization advising US educational institutions, Association of International Educators (naFSA), has strongly criticized the regulations. Its CEO, Fanta Awale, stated, “The new policy has created uncertainty, staffing issues, and fear within a system that had been functioning effectively in the long term. This is a policy that creates problems and then seeks to find solutions through them.”