US Student Visa Rules Tighten With New 4-Year Limit

Summary

The Trump administration has scrapped a decades-old policy that allowed international students to stay in the US as long as their studies lasted, imposing a new 4-year limit with biometric extension requirements. Jill Disis explains that this change, combined with existing visa scrutiny and fraud investigations, is already contributing to a drop in foreign student enrollment, especially from China, India, and South Korea. The policy raises concerns about the ability of US universities to attract international students who pay high tuition, adding pressure on the higher education sector.

• New US rule imposes a 4-year limit on F and J student visas, replacing indefinite duration tied to studies.
• Extensions require biometric data and are no longer coordinated by universities, adding barriers.
• China, South Korea, and India account for a large share of the 1.5 million students on these visas.
• Total foreign student enrollment in the US already fell 1.4% last year, with incoming students down 17%.
• Ongoing visa delays, fraud investigations, and stricter immigration enforcement compound the impact.
• Universities risk losing high-tuition-paying international students, threatening their financial model.