The Trump Administration has announced a proposed rule to limit the time foreign students, professors, physicians, and other visa holders can remain in the United States without additional screening, aiming to address visa abuse and enhance oversight by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The rule targets the “duration of status” policy, in place since 1978, which allows F visa holders, such as foreign students, to stay in the U.S. indefinitely without further vetting as long as they maintain their status. The DHS argues this has led some to become “forever students,” continuously enrolling in courses to extend their stay.

“For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” a DHS spokesperson said.

Under the proposed rule, foreign students and exchange visitors would be admitted for the duration of their academic program, capped at four years.

Foreign media representatives on I visas would receive an initial 240-day admission, with extensions possible up to another 240 days, tied to their assignment length.

Visa holders seeking to stay longer would need to apply for extensions through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), enabling regular DHS assessments via the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and its information system (SEVIS).

The proposal, initially introduced in 2020 during Trump’s first term but withdrawn by the Biden Administration in 2021, seeks to reduce the number of visa holders and improve access to compliance data.

If finalized, it could affect over 1.1 million international students enrolled in U.S. institutions during the 2023-24 academic year, who contribute approximately $44 billion to the economy annually.

The rule’s implementation hinges on a 30-day public comment period, after which it could reshape visa policies for students, scholars, and journalists.