The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule that would replace the longstanding “duration of status” (D/S) policy for international students and exchange visitors with fixed, four-year visa terms. This change affects F-1 student visas and J-1 exchange visitor visas, which currently allow students to remain in the US for the entire length of their academic program, plus grace periods. The proposal has sparked strong opposition from US higher education organisations, which warn it could disrupt academic careers and jeopardise the country’s global competitiveness in attracting international talent.
A broad coalition of more than 50 groups, including the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, has called on DHS to withdraw the proposed rule. They argue that the four-year cap on visas, restrictions on program transfers and major changes, and shorter grace periods would impose excessive bureaucratic barriers on students. Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance, said the rule “would cause significant harm to students and institutions … and likely dissuade international students, researchers, and scholars from coming to the United States,” as reported by the Presidents’ Alliance.
Key changes and proposed limits
The rule, published by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Federal Register on August 28, 2025, introduces several major restrictions on student visas:
The fixed four-year visa limit affects many students who take longer to complete their degrees, such as PhD candidates, joint-degree students, medical residents, and community college transfers. These students would need to apply for extensions through the new EOS process, which critics say lacks clear timelines and could cause delays similar to those experienced in Optional Practical Training (OPT) approvals.
Economic impact and enrollment concerns
According to the NAFSA Economic Impact Report for the 2023–24 academic year, international students contributed a record $43.8 billion to the US economy and supported over 378,000 jobs. These contributions go beyond tuition fees, benefitting local businesses and communities nationwide. The report underscores the vital economic role of international students in sustaining higher education and regional economies.
Data from the 2024 SEVIS by the Numbers report from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows that Indian students represent about 27% of international enrolments, highlighting shifting demographics. Meanwhile, The Washington Post analysed how changes in visa policy could further reduce international student participation in US higher education, a trend that experts warn will undermine competitiveness.
Public discussions, including Reddit threads, have projected a potential loss of up to 150,000 international students in fall 2025 due to visa restrictions and processing delays, raising concerns about the rule’s impact on the US talent pipeline.
Academic flexibility and oversight
The proposed rule restricts transfers and changes of academic major within the first year, a limitation not applied to domestic students. This reduction in flexibility shifts academic oversight from universities to federal officials. The Presidents’ Alliance described this as adding “bureaucratic hurdles” that intrude on academic decision-making and place financial and emotional burdens on students.
Federal data show that many students, including undergraduates, often require more than four years to complete their degrees. The coalition warns the proposed timelines would create significant challenges for degree completion and could cause extensive backlogs in visa extensions.
Calls for withdrawal and collaboration
In public comments submitted to DHS, ACE and the Presidents’ Alliance argued that the rule “tries to address problems that do not exist” and would “severely restrict the opportunities of international students and discourage them from choosing the United States,” as reported by ACE. They urged DHS to withdraw the rule and engage directly with higher education stakeholders to develop solutions that maintain the US’s appeal as a destination for global talent.
The proposed rule comes amid ongoing competition with other countries for international students, who contribute substantially to US research, innovation, and economic growth. Restrictions on their study opportunities could have long-term consequences for higher education and the broader US economy.
A broad coalition of more than 50 groups, including the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, has called on DHS to withdraw the proposed rule. They argue that the four-year cap on visas, restrictions on program transfers and major changes, and shorter grace periods would impose excessive bureaucratic barriers on students. Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance, said the rule “would cause significant harm to students and institutions … and likely dissuade international students, researchers, and scholars from coming to the United States,” as reported by the Presidents’ Alliance.
Key changes and proposed limits
The rule, published by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Federal Register on August 28, 2025, introduces several major restrictions on student visas:
The fixed four-year visa limit affects many students who take longer to complete their degrees, such as PhD candidates, joint-degree students, medical residents, and community college transfers. These students would need to apply for extensions through the new EOS process, which critics say lacks clear timelines and could cause delays similar to those experienced in Optional Practical Training (OPT) approvals.
Economic impact and enrollment concerns
According to the NAFSA Economic Impact Report for the 2023–24 academic year, international students contributed a record $43.8 billion to the US economy and supported over 378,000 jobs. These contributions go beyond tuition fees, benefitting local businesses and communities nationwide. The report underscores the vital economic role of international students in sustaining higher education and regional economies.
Data from the 2024 SEVIS by the Numbers report from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows that Indian students represent about 27% of international enrolments, highlighting shifting demographics. Meanwhile, The Washington Post analysed how changes in visa policy could further reduce international student participation in US higher education, a trend that experts warn will undermine competitiveness.
Public discussions, including Reddit threads, have projected a potential loss of up to 150,000 international students in fall 2025 due to visa restrictions and processing delays, raising concerns about the rule’s impact on the US talent pipeline.
Academic flexibility and oversight
The proposed rule restricts transfers and changes of academic major within the first year, a limitation not applied to domestic students. This reduction in flexibility shifts academic oversight from universities to federal officials. The Presidents’ Alliance described this as adding “bureaucratic hurdles” that intrude on academic decision-making and place financial and emotional burdens on students.
Federal data show that many students, including undergraduates, often require more than four years to complete their degrees. The coalition warns the proposed timelines would create significant challenges for degree completion and could cause extensive backlogs in visa extensions.
Calls for withdrawal and collaboration
In public comments submitted to DHS, ACE and the Presidents’ Alliance argued that the rule “tries to address problems that do not exist” and would “severely restrict the opportunities of international students and discourage them from choosing the United States,” as reported by ACE. They urged DHS to withdraw the rule and engage directly with higher education stakeholders to develop solutions that maintain the US’s appeal as a destination for global talent.
The proposed rule comes amid ongoing competition with other countries for international students, who contribute substantially to US research, innovation, and economic growth. Restrictions on their study opportunities could have long-term consequences for higher education and the broader US economy.
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