The proposed U.S. student visa rule under review could impose fixed stays on F, J, and I visas, potentially affecting over 420,000 Indian students as they face increased uncertainty and costs.
The United States is contemplating a significant change to its student visa policy that may impact more than 420,000 Indian students. Under a proposed rule from the Department of Homeland Security, currently being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. would impose fixed stays for holders of F, J, and I visas—encompassing students, exchange visitors, and foreign media professionals.
If implemented, this rule would replace the current “duration of status” policy, which allows students to stay as long as they remain enrolled full-time. Instead, students would confront fixed expiration dates on their visas. This adjustment would necessitate periodic applications for extensions, potentially causing delays and additional costs, according to Rajiv Khanna, managing attorney at Immigration.com. Khanna noted that the average extension request could take months, adding to the challenges faced by international students.
The change poses a particular concern for Indian students, who are the largest group of international students in the U.S. In 2024, over 420,000 Indian nationals were enrolled in American universities, per U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement data. The rule could disrupt individual academic journeys and strain the broader educational partnership between India and the U.S.
A similar proposal was introduced in 2020 under the Trump administration but did not advance. Its potential revival signals a move towards stricter visa policies, raising apprehensions among stakeholders. Critics warn that it could alter how “unlawful presence” is determined; currently, it commences only after a formal finding by immigration authorities. Under the new proposal, any overstay, intentional or not, could trigger it immediately.
Universities and colleges in the U.S. have opposed the change, arguing that it stems from exaggerated concerns about visa overstays. In 2023, the overstay rate for F, M, and J visas was 3.6 percent. There is also uncertainty about the rule’s implementation. If the DHS issues it as an interim final rule, it could come into effect immediately, bypassing public comment, and leaving institutions and students little time to adapt.
While the final rule hasn’t been published in the Federal Register, the policy’s direction highlights a shift in how the U.S. views international student flexibility, potentially affecting the attractiveness of U.S. education.
The impending change compounds anxiety for Indian students awaiting F-1 visa interview slots for the upcoming fall 2025 academic session. Frustrations have mounted among student communities, as evidenced by a widely shared Reddit post expressing worries about the unavailability of F-1 visa slots in India. The delay has left many students, who face August start dates, in a dilemma as they remain unable to secure required interviews at U.S. consulates in India.
Further complicating matters, in June, the U.S. Embassy in India specified that Indian applicants for F, M, or J student visas need to make their social media accounts public before attending their visa interviews.
According to The Times of India, these developments reflect the broader policy reassessment by the U.S., which may reshape the global perception and desirability of American higher education for international students.