The U.S. government has finalized a rule that limits foreign students' length of stay to up to four years and requires separate approval for an extension to continue studies after that.
According to foreign media on the 16th (local time), the Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule setting the maximum U.S. stay for F-1 student visa holders at four years.
Once the new rule takes effect, international students will have to apply to the Department of Homeland Security to extend their stay in order to continue studying after four years.
Until now, F-1 visa holders could remain in the United States until completing their regular academic program without a separate limit on length of stay.
The Department of Homeland Security said it took this step to reduce national security concerns related to the student visa system.
As a result, foreign students, including those from Korea, may face restrictions in planning long-term studies, and the administrative burden associated with visa extensions is expected to grow.