The Donald Trump administration limited the length of stay for international students who came to study in the United States on student (F) and exchange visitor (J) visas to up to four years. The rule change is expected to cause significant confusion, especially among current U.S. international students and those preparing or planning to study in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the 16th (local time) announced in a press release a final rule requiring students with F visas and exchange visitor J visa holders to stay in the United States for up to four years. Previously, as long as studies continued, those holding F and J visas could in effect remain without a set limit, but going forward, after four years they must undergo DHS review to obtain an extension. The "four-year stay" rule will also automatically apply to students who have already received a student visa, entered the United States, and are studying.
DHS said it will impose strict limits on changing majors. Even when a change of major requires a stay extension, officials will closely examine the need for the change, and if a clear academic plan is not presented, approval for an extension is unlikely to be easy.
Secretary Markwayne Mullin said, "Outdated systems have threatened national security and created an environment rife with immigration fraud," adding, "With the final rule, foreign students will be able to focus on the original purpose of completing their studies and returning to their home countries."
DHS said the final rule will be published in the Federal Register within days. The Federal Register website said the rule is scheduled to be posted on the 17th (local time).
The amended rule will take effect 60 days after publication. Sixty days later falls in mid-September, meaning the new rule will in effect apply to student visa holders starting with the new semester in September. As a result, it is expected to significantly affect not only students already studying in the United States but also students in Korea and other countries who are planning and preparing to study in the United States.
According to Reuters, as of 2024, there are more than 1.8 million U.S. student visa holders. That is an 11% increase from the previous year. For J visas, the number stands at 500,000 as of 2024.
Journalists with the I visa who came to the United States as members of foreign news organizations will also see their length of stay shortened to 240 days. After that, they must extend in 240-day increments. Journalists with Chinese nationality can extend in 90-day increments. There were 37,000 I visa holders as of 2024.
According to the Embassy of Korea in the United States, as of 2025, there are 11,861 Korean students staying in the United States on the F-1 student visa. There are 1,347 family members staying with them on the F-2 visa. There are 7,985 exchange visitors who entered the United States on the J-1 visa, and their family members number 3,180. There are 349 Korean I visa holders.
The move appears to be an extension of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement. The Trump administration has carried out large-scale operations to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants in the United States. It also raised the bar for those staying legally in the country, such as by imposing a $100,000 fee on professional visas (about 148 million won).