The Donald Trump administration has proposed sweeping changes to the US student visa system that could significantly impact Indian students studying in the United States or planning to pursue higher education there. The new rule, announced by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeks to replace the long-standing “duration of status” system with fixed-term visas for most international students.
Under the proposal, students holding F and J visas would generally be granted permission to stay in the US for up to four years instead of remaining for the full duration of their academic programme. Students wishing to continue beyond the approved period would have to apply for an extension before their visa expires. Failure to do so could result in the loss of legal immigration status.
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The proposed change forms part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration agenda since returning to office in January 2025. The administration has already introduced stricter immigration checks, increased scrutiny of international students, and expanded visa revocations as part of its enforcement measures.
