Malaysian students face uncertainty over new U.S. visa rules

For Malaysian PhD student Yasmin Muhaiddin, 44, the United States' new visa regulations have introduced a period of significant uncertainty. The rules, which took effect in July, cap the length of stay for international students, impacting everything from visa stamping to future academic plans.

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Travelling home for visa stamping is very expensive. Students have to pay for flights, visa application fees, accommodation and other travel expenses. If they are unable to return, all the time, money and effort they invested in their education could be lost.

Muhaiddin expressed concern over the potential difficulties and expenses associated with visa stamping, noting that many students are now hesitant to travel home for fear of not being able to return to the U.S. to continue their studies. "Travelling home for visa stamping is very expensive," she said, detailing the costs of flights, application fees, and accommodation. "If they are unable to return, all the time, money and effort they invested in their education could be lost."

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We spend years preparing, work hard to get accepted into a university and make huge sacrifices to study in the US. We are not here to misuse the system but to get an education and build a better future.

The revised policy replaces the previous "duration of status" system, which allowed students to remain in the U.S. as long as they maintained their studies. Under the new framework, F and J visas will generally be capped at four years, with a reduced 30-day grace period to leave or change status, down from 60 days. Students requiring more than four years will need to apply for extensions, involving background checks and biometric screening.

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Those of us intending to return home after graduation will need to review our programme timelines to make sure we graduate on time, while those hoping to pursue employment should make full use of the shortened 30-day grace period and prepare well in advance.

The National Assembly of Malaysian Students in the United States of America (Namsa) acknowledged the changes, advising resilience and proactive planning. They recommended that students intending to return home after graduation review their timelines, while those seeking employment should prepare for the shortened grace period. Namsa and Education Malaysia in Washington, D.C. are available resources for guidance.

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Our advice to fellow students is to seek help early. This includes speaking to your international student adviser and reaching out to Namsa or Education Malaysia in Washington, DC.