As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, it is poised to implement significant changes to its visa policies affecting international students and exchange visitors. A new rule set to replace the longstanding “Duration of Status” system will impose fixed admission periods for F-1 student and J-1 exchange visitor visas. The policy is expected to be published in the Federal Register soon and will take effect 60 days after publication.
Currently, F-1 and J-1 visa holders can remain in the United States without a fixed departure date while enrolled in academic programs, a system in place for nearly 50 years since modifications in the early 1990s. Under the new rule, students will be assigned a specific end date based on the length of their academic program, or a maximum of four years, whichever is shorter. Students in longer programs will need to apply for extensions to remain lawfully in the country.
Additional restrictions will limit F-1 undergraduate students from changing their major or transferring to a different institution during their first year. Graduates will also be prohibited from pursuing another major at an equal or lower educational level after completing their degree.
Critics of the policy, including Charles Foster, vice-chair of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations and an immigration attorney, describe the changes as “unnecessary” and “overly restrictive.” Foster warns that the new rules will complicate an already complex system, potentially increasing the risk of students falling out of lawful status. Rosie Levine, executive director of the US-China Education Trust, expressed concern that while the rules aim to address abuses of student visa policies by a small minority, they will impose additional administrative burdens on the broader population of compliant students and educational institutions.
International students contribute significantly to the US economy and innovation landscape. Levine noted that about one in four billion-dollar startups in the US were founded by former international students. She also highlighted that education exports to China remain the country’s largest services export to the region, supporting over 143,000 American jobs. Foster emphasized the value international students bring, especially in critical STEM fields, reinforcing that they attract top global talent central to technological and medical advancements.
A 2022 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found immigrants accounted for 44 percent of founders of US billion-dollar startups and contributed to roughly one-third of overall US innovation. Levine cautioned that the introduction of new visa restrictions could disadvantage the US as competitors such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia position themselves as more stable destinations for international students.
The number of international students in the US has already declined since the Trump administration implemented policies aimed at reducing their presence. Current federal mandates require universities to limit international admissions as a condition of receiving grants, and visa cancellations have been widespread. The impact of the forthcoming policy on this dynamic remains to be seen.