New rule would cap duration of visas at four years and require holders to apply for extensions to stay longer
This information is published by the Wall Street Journal. We are a private immigration law firm providing support and guidance.
By Michelle Hackman and Marianne LeVine
July 16, 2026 11:02 am ET
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration will limit how long a foreign student can remain in the U.S. on a student visa under a new regulation announced on Thursday, increasing the hurdles for foreign students and universities’ ability to recruit them.
The new policy, known as the “duration of status” rule, would cap the length of a student visa at the number of years its holder is enrolled in a particular program, with a maximum of four years. Students would need to apply for an extension of status if they want to stay longer.
For roughly the last five decades, student visas were granted for what was called the “duration of status” of their programs, meaning their student visa was valid for however many years their educational program lasted, plus optional practical training. Optional practical training, or OPT, is an immigration program that allows foreign students to work in the U.S., for up to three years after graduation.
The new rule means foreign Ph.D. students, whose programs typically run six years, would be required to apply for an extension and risk being denied well into their programs. It would also require nearly all students, for the first time, to apply for an extension to use their OPT.
“For decades, foreign studies have been admitted into the U.S. indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse our immigration system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the U.S.,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. “By implementing clear, finite limits on these visas, the United States is reclaiming its ability to properly screen, vet, and monitor individuals within our borders.”
