The US Government has Revived the Idea of Limiting the Duration of Status for International Students

The US Governmentis considering a rule change that would limit the length of time that studentvisas can be issued. If implemented, the new rule would represent an alterationfrom the prevailing "duration of status" system for giving visas forlearners in the United States. “Duration of status" effectively enablesforeign students to stay in the United States for the length of their academicprograms, as long as they follow the regulations of student visa. The suggestedrule, the details of which have yet to be shared, would impose fixed-term constraints on new student visas.

The initiative resonates a comparable proposal made near the final days in the previous term of Trump administration, in 2020. At that time, the intention had been to limit F-1 visas to the duration of the planned course of study, not exceeding four years, after which learners must apply for an extension of visa or a new visa to carry on their studies in the United States. According to the2020 suggestion, learners from an array of particular countries were to have been restricted to a two-year visa term rather than four. These countries include countries that have been observed track of terrorism as per UYS Government. Countries with more than 10% record of overstaying were also to be part of the list.

That 2020suggestion was contentious and widely criticized in US higher education. The rule would impose arbitrary timelines that do not correspond to how many academic programs operate, and it would create obstacles and ambiguity for international students who would wonder, Is the United States the right country for them to show up? Finally, the recommendation was dismissed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in June 2021, during the Biden administration.

The positive aspect is the fact that it came in as a proposed rule, not a provisional final or final rule. Because this is the rule's draft stage, a rule will not be deemed final until [DHS] looks at feedback from the public on the put forward rule, presents a final rule for [Office of Management and Budget] review, and releases a binding rule in the Federal Register with a future effective date.

According to the upcoming ruling, managing international education and exchange visitor programs will be significantly more difficult. The rule also communicates to international students and exchange visitors, as well as the rest of the world, that outstanding talent, dedication to work, different points of view, and earnings from other countries are not welcome in the United States. That could be a body blow for the US in terms of its reputation and welcoming nature as a leader in the international education market, if this law goes through.