DHS Sets Four-Year Limit on F and J Visas, Requires Approval for Longer Stays

The Department of Homeland Security finalized a rule on Thursday that limits international students and scholars on F and J visas to a maximum stay of four years in the U.S. unless they obtain government approval to remain longer. The rule marks a departure from the prior practice of admitting such students for the duration of their academic programs.

It applies to those arriving after the September effective date and adds restrictions on changing majors or academic programs. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the limits allow the United States to reclaim its ability to properly screen, vet, and monitor individuals within its borders.

He added that the rule ensures foreign students remain focused on completing their studies and returning home.

Zuzana Wootson, deputy director of federal policy at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, called the action unnecessary and duplicative. She noted that international students are already among the most closely monitored nonimmigrant populations and subject to rigorous oversight by DHS and academic institutions.

Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, said the policy sends the wrong message at a time when global competition for talent is intensifying.

International student enrollment is declining, with schools that rely heavily on full-tuition-paying international students feeling the effects most acutely. The rule follows earlier Trump administration actions on international students, including the termination of students' legal status on a widespread basis last spring, requirements for visa applicants to share social media handles, and travel bans affecting more than a dozen countries.