DHS caps F and J student visas at four years and shortens post-graduation stay to 30 days

The Department of Homeland Security finalized a rule on July 17, 2025, that limits F and J visa holders to the length of their academic program up to a maximum of four years and caps I visas for foreign journalists at 240 days, with 90-day limits for Chinese nationals.

The rule shortens the period F visa holders have to depart or transfer after graduation from 60 days to 30 days. It will be published in the Federal Register within days and take effect 60 days later, potentially as soon as September 2025.

He added that the rule ensures foreign students remain focused on completing their studies and returning home. The United States admitted more than 1.1 million international students in the 2023-24 academic year, who contributed more than $50 billion to the economy in 2023. The department received close to 22,000 public comments on the proposal issued in August 2025.

The Embassy of Japan had urged longer admission periods of two to five years for correspondents, but DHS rejected those requests along with proposals for expedited processing and capped fees. A similar rule was proposed at the end of the first Trump administration but was scrapped by the Biden administration. The new rule is subject to review by the Republican-led Congress.