WASHINGTON, July 18 (ANI): The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized a new immigration rule imposing a maximum four-year limit on stays for F-1 student visa holders, J-1 exchange visitors, and I visa holders for foreign journalists, a move expected to affect hundreds of thousands of Indian nationals.
The policy change has raised concerns among Indian students and professionals, creating uncertainty over their academic and career plans in the United States.
According to a final rule published in the Federal Register by the Department of Homeland Security, the new framework eliminates the long-standing “duration of status” system.
Under the new regulation, most international students and exchange visitors will be allowed to remain in the United States only for the duration of their approved academic program, subject to a maximum stay of four years at a time. Foreign journalists traveling on I visas will also be subject to fixed periods of stay.
The regulation, introduced as part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration agenda, is scheduled to take effect on Sept. 15, 2026, although it remains subject to congressional review.
Responding to the development, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is closely monitoring the situation and remains in contact with U.S. authorities to safeguard the interests of Indian citizens.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We’ve seen some reports regarding the visa rules. Visa rules and visa functions and immigration matters are sovereign functions of any state.”
He added that India would continue to support its citizens facing difficulties arising from changes in U.S. immigration policy.
“But having said that, let me tell you that as and when there are issues of difficulties, which are brought to our attention, in regard to genuine travellers [and] students, among others, who seek support from the U.S., we take up those issues with the U.S. side so as to minimise the difficulties that our people face,” Jaiswal said.
India remains the largest source of international students in the United States. According to earlier figures shared by Jaiswal, approximately 330,000 Indian students were enrolled at U.S. educational institutions during the 2023-24 academic year.
Beyond students, the United States currently hosts about 500,000 J-1 exchange visitors and roughly 37,000 foreign media professionals on I visas.
The DHS published the final rule on July 16, paving the way for implementation in mid-September.
For decades, F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors operated under the flexible “duration of status” framework, which allowed them to remain legally in the United States as long as they maintained enrollment, participated in their approved programs, and complied with visa requirements, without a fixed expiration date on their immigration status.
Under the new regulations, students who need additional time to complete their academic programs may apply to DHS for an extension or leave the United States and re-enter under a newly authorized period of stay. However, the process is expected to become significantly more restrictive.
Previously, universities had the authority to extend a student’s legal stay. Under the revised system, that authority shifts entirely to federal immigration officials, adding another level of government review.
The new rule also shortens the post-graduation grace period.
Previously, F-1 students were allowed 60 days after graduation to leave the United States, transfer to another educational institution, or change to a different visa category. The revised rule reduces that period to 30 days and imposes stricter requirements for transferring schools or changing academic programs.
The Trump administration has defended the changes, saying they are intended to prevent misuse of student visas and strengthen oversight of foreign nationals studying or participating in exchange programs in the United States.
The latest development follows previous diplomatic engagement between India and the United States on immigration matters.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States briefly announced that international students would be required to leave the country if their universities switched entirely to online instruction. The policy was later withdrawn following widespread international criticism and representations from India and other countries.
More recently, in mid-2025, New Delhi urged Washington to assess Indian student visa applications “on merit” after the Trump administration temporarily suspended visa interviews and expanded social media screening for applicants.
The diplomatic engagement took place around the time Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Washington for high-level bilateral discussions on technology cooperation. (ANI)
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