U.S. announces tougher student visa rules introducing four-year stay limit
U.S. announces tougher student visa rules introducing four-year stay limit
Thousands of Kenyan students studying in the United States will no longer be allowed to remain in the country indefinitely while pursuing their education after the Donald Trump administration issued a final rule limiting most student visas to four years.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the final regulation on Thursday, July 16, formally ending the “duration of status” policy that had allowed certain foreign students, exchange visitors and foreign media representatives to remain in the country for an open-ended period tied to their programme.
DHS officials said the move is intended to curb what they described as abuse of the student visa system, arguing that some international students repeatedly enrolled in academic programmes to avoid leaving the country.
“For decades, foreign students have been admitted into the U.S. indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse our immigration system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the U.S.,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.
He added, “By implementing clear, finite limits on these visas, the United States is reclaiming its ability to properly screen, vet, and monitor individuals within our borders. This final rule ensures that foreign students remain focused on their primary purpose: completing their studies and returning home.”
Under the new rule, holders of F and J visas will instead be admitted for the length of their specific programme, which will be capped at a maximum of four years.
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Those who require additional time to complete their studies will have to apply directly to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for an Extension of Stay, rather than relying on approvals through their educational institutions.
The extension process will include biometric screening, background checks and additional fraud assessments conducted by federal authorities.
DHS also announced other sweeping changes to its student visa system, including shortening the grace period for F-1 students after completing their studies from 60 days to 30 days to either leave the country, transfer schools or change their immigration status.
In addition, the regulation introduces stricter limits that create new hurdles for students seeking to change their academic programmes.
The rules will take effect 60 days after they are published in the Federal Register within the next few days, with an automatic transition to the new framework.
As the U.S. intensifies its crackdown on immigration across the board, Kenyan students and other affected non-immigrant visa holders already in the country can expect their authorised stay to be limited to a maximum of four years from the rule’s effective date.
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