Homeland Security Proposes 4-Year Limit on Student & Exchange Visitor Visas
8/29/2025
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed changes to the admission period of F (academic student) and J (exchange visitor) visa holders from the duration of status to a fixed time period.
These changes would affect visas for undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Some key changes would include:
- Setting the authorized admission and extension periods for F and J nonimmigrants up to the program length, not to exceed a 4-year period
- Prohibiting F-1 students at the graduate education level from changing programs at any point during a program of study
- Decreasing from 60 to 30 days the allowed period for F-1 nonimmigrants to prepare to depart from the United States after completion of a course of study
There are many other proposed rule changes including requirements for extensions.
"DHS encourages all interested parties to participate in this rulemaking by submitting data, views, comments, and arguments on all aspects of this notice of proposed rulemaking. Comments providing the most assistance to DHS will reference a specific portion of this rule, explain the reason for any recommended change and include the data, information, or authority that supports the recommended change."
Comments should be submitted by September 29, 2025: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/28/2025-16554/establishing-a-fixed-time-period-of-admission-and-an-extension-of-stay-procedure-for-nonimmigrant
Last Updated 08/29/2025
