US student visas to come with expiry date soon. A worry for Indians?

A major change to the US student visa system is on the horizon. The White House has cleared a proposed regulation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would replace the long-standing "Duration of Status" framework with fixed periods of stay for international students.

Under the proposed rule changes, the authorised period of stay for international students will reportedly be capped at four years, reported American news outlet, Bloomberg.

The move would affect holders of F-1 student visas, J-1 exchange visitor visas, and other visa categories, potentially requiring many students to seek formal extensions from US immigration authorities if their studies continue beyond a specified period.

The proposed change could have a major impact on Indian students, which is the largest international student group in the US. Several Indian students are enroled in doctoral, research-intensive and other long-duration programmes that extend beyond four years.

HOW NEW US VISA RULE CHANGES THINGS FOR STUDENTS

Under the current "Duration of Status" framework, international students are generally allowed to remain in the US for as long as they are enroled in their academic programme and comply with visa requirements. This gave students the flexibility to extend their studies, transfer between universities, change academic programmes, progress from undergraduate to postgraduate courses, and complete Optional Practical Training or STEM OPT without seeking a fresh admission period.

The proposed rule would end that arrangement and instead grant students a fixed period of authorised stay.

While the final regulation isn't published yet and awaits enforcement, previous versions of the proposal indicated that most students would receive a maximum admission period of four years.

Students whose courses extend beyond that limit would need approval from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to remain in the country legally. The process could involve additional documentation, biometric requirements, greater scrutiny and processing delays.

The regulation has already completed review by the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB), one of the final procedural steps before formal publication and implementation.

HOW NEW US STUDENT VISA RULES WILL IMPACT INDIAN STUDENTS

For Indian students, the proposed change could carry particular significance.

India is currently the largest source of international students in the US. According to the Open Doors 2024 report, more than 3,31,000 Indian students were enroled in US higher education institutions during the 2023-24 academic year, accounting for nearly 30% of all international students in the country.

Many of those students are enroled in programmes that regularly extend beyond four years, including doctoral degrees, research-intensive master's programmes and certain professional courses. Under the new framework, such students could face additional paperwork and immigration scrutiny to continue their studies.

Organisations, including the Association of American Universities (AAU), the American Council on Education (ACE) and NAFSA have argued that fixed periods of stay would create "a high degree of uncertainty" for students whose study and research timelines often fluctuate, increase administrative burdens on institutions, and generally make it harder for students enroled in lengthy research or doctoral programmes to maintain legal status, according to the statements from the AAU and the NAFSA.

The proposal could also have implications for students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows international graduates to gain work experience in the US after completing their studies. Any delays in extension approvals could complicate transitions between academic programmes and employment.

WHAT HAPPENS IF STUDENT'S VISA EXPIRES IN US?

Another key concern is enforcement of the new changes. Under the proposed framework, students could begin accruing unlawful presence immediately after their authorised stay expires, increasing the risks associated with administrative delays, processing backlogs or paperwork errors.

In practical terms, an international student who fails to secure an extension before their authorised stay lapses could fall out of legal status, potentially exposing them to immigration enforcement actions. According to immigration firm Fragomen, such students could immediately begin accruing unlawful presence, exposing them to penalties that may include restrictions on future travel to the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) first advanced the proposal during President Donald Trump's first term, but it was never implemented. The idea was revived in 2025 and has now moved significantly closer to becoming official policy following approval from the White House.

For now, the existing rules remain unchanged. International students can continue to stay in the United States under the current duration-of-status system until the final regulation is formally published and takes effect. However, if implemented, the policy might mark one of the most significant changes to the US student visa system in decades, with Indian students, now the largest international student community in America, likely to be among those most affected.