US Announces New Restrictions for Foreign Students, Limits Stay After Graduation to 30 Days

The United States government has announced new regulations that will introduce stricter conditions for foreign students studying in the country, including limiting the period they can remain in the US after graduation.

The new policy, expected to take effect in September 2026, will require international students on F-1 and J-1 visas to leave the country within 30 days after completing their studies, unless they change to another eligible visa category.

Under the current system, foreign students are admitted under “duration of status,” allowing them to remain in the US for as long as necessary to complete their academic programmes. The new rules will replace this arrangement with a fixed period of stay, requiring additional approval from the federal government for students who need more time.

The Trump administration said the changes are aimed at preventing what it described as visa abuse and strengthening national security through regular monitoring of international students.

The new regulations will also restrict students’ ability to transfer between universities and switch academic programmes, with higher education institutions losing some authority to approve visa-related extensions.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin argued that the previous system allowed some foreign students to remain in the US indefinitely by repeatedly enrolling in academic programmes without leaving the country.

However, the proposed changes have faced criticism from international education organisations. The Association of International Educators (NAFSA) described the policy as unnecessary and warned that it could create uncertainty and additional bureaucracy for students and universities.

NAFSA Chief Executive Fanta Aw said the new rules could negatively affect a system that has supported international education for decades.

Concerns have also been raised about the impact on graduate students, particularly those pursuing doctoral programmes in science and technology fields. Many of these programmes require more than four years due to research demands, funding challenges, and the time needed to publish academic work.

The new rules form part of a wider immigration policy direction by the Trump administration aimed at reducing the number of foreign students and tightening controls on immigration into the United States.

The changes are expected to affect thousands of international students, including those who rely on extended study periods to complete advanced degrees and research projects.