The United States (US) government led by President Donald Trump is setting new limits on how long foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists can stay in the country.
The change ends a system that has been in place for decades, a system that let many of them stay as long as they were still in school or on the job.
- International students and exchange visitors will normally be allowed to stay for four years.
If people want to stay longer than that, they have to apply for an extension or leave the country and re-enter.
The rule takes effect 60 days after its publication date in the Federal Registrar. The new set of limits must also undergo a congressional review. It could affect students trying to start college programs in August and September.
This is the latest step in Trump’s broader crackdown on immigration since he returned to office in January 2025.
DHS said in a statement that past administrations let foreign students and visa holders stay in the country almost indefinitely. It called this a security risk and said it cost taxpayers money while putting American citizens at a disadvantage. The department says the new rule will make it easier to track people while they are in the country.
In June, the State Department said it had revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump took office, including 8,000 held by students.
