U.S. Proposes Four-Year Visa Cap for International Students, DHS Says

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposed rule on August 27, 2025, to limit the validity period of F visas for international students to a maximum of four years, replacing the current “duration of status” framework that allows students to remain in the U.S. for the entire length of their academic programs, which can exceed five years for doctoral degrees. The rule, aimed at enhancing program compliance, reducing fraud, and bolstering national security, would require F-1 students to apply for extensions through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if their program extends beyond four years, with additional security checks, as reported by DHS’s official statement. Students from countries with visa overstay rates above 10% or on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list may face a two-year limit, while those at E-Verify-participating or accredited schools could qualify for the full four years, per the Federal Register. The proposal, which also affects J-1 exchange visitors and I-1 media representatives (limited to 240 days), is open for public comment until September 26, 2025, with no final implementation date confirmed.