US tightens rules for foreign students

The Trump administration has confirmed new rules for foreign students in the United States, set to take effect in September, limiting most students to four years in the country.

The Department of Homeland Security said students who need longer will have to request an extension from the federal government. Previously, students could stay as long as it took to finish their degree under a system known as “duration of status.” Universities also had the power to approve extensions themselves, but that authority now shifts to Washington.

The rules also make switching schools or changing degree programmes more difficult.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the changes are needed to stop visa abuse and improve national security screening. He argued that some students have exploited the system by continuously enrolling in courses to avoid leaving.

However, the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) called the rules “misguided and unnecessary.” Its chief executive, Fanta Aw, said the policy adds confusion and red tape to a system that already works well.

The four-year limit covers most undergraduate degrees but poses challenges for graduate students, who make up the majority of international students in the US, particularly in science and technology fields. PhDs and research-heavy degrees often take longer than four years to complete.

The grace period for students to leave the country or switch to a new visa type has also been cut from 60 to 30 days.

The move is part of a broader crackdown on foreign students, including efforts to cap numbers at top universities and revoke visas from students critical of US foreign policy.

SOURCE: MRA