New DHS Foreign Student Visa Caps Could Impact UA
A new rule from the Trump Administration will give the some 1,200 foreign students from 99 different countries on student and exchange visas at the University of Alabama a specific time period to complete their course of study before being required to leave the United States.
Virtually every college and university in the State of Alabama have significant foreign student populations. The University of West Alabama in Livingston counts some 90 foreign students from 23 different countries on campus last semester.
If finalized, the rule would significantly affect international students capping stays at four years and reduce post-graduation grace periods to 30 days.. The announcement did state that visa holders could apply for a limited extension.
The tightened regulation replaces the current "duration of status" system which typically spans 3–4 years for a Bachelor's, 1–2 years for a Master's, and 4–7 years for a Doctorate.
The Department of Homeland Security released the new requirements today intended on not only tightening the duration of stay for foreign students but also cultural exchange visitors and journalists. Covered in the mandate are strict time-periods for F-visas for international students, J-visas allowing cultural exchange program workers, and I-visas for journalists.
Journalist stays will generally be capped at 240-days — 90 days for Chinese journalists. DHS says the change would help it track compliance and curb misuse of these categories.
The rule is continuation of the Trump Administration's crachdown on foreign visitors and the immigrant community. DHS has revoked students visas and green cards from foreign students who voice ideological differences with the administration.
Higher education typically aggressively recruits foreign students because most pay full, out-of-state tuition (often subsidized by their home government), they generally are ineligible for U.S. Federal financial aid, and the income subsidizes institutional operations and scholorship programs.
In making the announcement, DHS stated the are more than 1.8 million foreign students in the U.S. currently,a 24% increase since 2024.
The new rule will become effective 60 days from its publication in the Federal register, which is subject to congressional oversight.
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