New Delhi: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalised a regulation that will replace the long-standing “duration of status” system with a fixed period of stay in the country.
Under the new rule released on Thursday, students on F-1 visas will generally be allowed to remain in the US for up to four years, Bloomberg reported. And those who need more time to complete their studies will have to seek an extension from DHS before their authorised stay expires.
The new rule will international students hard, especially over 3.3 lakh Indians who will soon be facing stricter immigration rules.
The stricter immigration rules will have a significant impact on Indian students, who now form the largest international student community in the United States.
According to the Open Doors 2024 report, more than 331,000 Indian students were enrolled in US colleges and universities during the 2023-24 academic year, making up nearly 30 per cent of all international students in the country.
Quite a high percentage of Indian students pursue programmes – such as doctoral degrees, research-based master’s programmes, medical training, engineering research and other specialised professional courses — that take longer than four years to complete.
Under the new system, these students will have to apply to DHS for an extension before the end of their authorised stay if they wish to continue studying.
The new regulation will also introduce fixed periods of stay for J-1 exchange visitors and I visas issued to foreign media representatives.
The move is subject to congressional review before it takes effect.
What was the existing rule
International students on F-1 visas have, for several decades, been admitted to the US under the ‘duration of status’ system. Instead of being given a fixed expiry date on visas, students could remain in the US as long as they maintained full-time enrolment and complied with visa requirements.
The new DHS rule will end that ‘luxury’.
According to DHS, the change is intended to improve oversight of temporary visa holders and strengthen national security safeguards.
