White House Reviewing Rule to Limit Foreign Students’ Status

Regulations restricting foreign students on F-1 visas to fixed periods of stay in the US are under review at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, a final step before their public release.

A proposed rule circulated last year would do away with an existing open-ended framework known as “duration of status” that allows international students to remain in the country as long as they’re pursuing a full course of study. The Department of Homeland Security proposal instead would limit them to four-year stay periods before they’re required to renew their status with the agency.

The final rule (RIN: 1653-AA95) was sent to OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on Tuesday.

The proposal revived a concept from the first Trump administration, which was opposed by college groups and health-care organizations who warned it would jeopardize students’ degree completion with unnecessary administrative burdens. It’s release in August came after other initiatives by DHS and the State Department that created chaos for many foreign students, including a temporary freeze on visa interviews and the cancellation of thousands of students’ lawful status.

Foreign enrollment at US universities this past fall dropped for the first time in three years, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

The DHS proposal also included new restrictions on the maximum stay of J-1 exchange visitor visa holders and members of foreign media on I visas.