Trump's new rules: How much longer will foreign students be able to stay in the US?

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has finalized new regulations that will significantly shorten the permitted duration of stay for foreign students and journalists in the United States. This move is one of the latest measures in a series of immigration policy tightenings that were a key priority during Trump's presidency.

The new rules, which could take effect as early as September, stipulate that foreign students on visas can remain in the U.S. for a maximum of four years, or for the length of their study program, whichever is shorter. Previously, their stay was tied to their student status without a predetermined time limit. For foreign journalists, stays will be limited to 240 days, or approximately eight months, with a possible extension of another 240 days. An exception is made for Chinese correspondents, who will be allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security presented the proposed rules last August. After a public comment period, during which nearly 22,000 comments were received, the regulation was adopted with almost no changes. The department stated that the previous system allowed some foreign students to extend their studies indefinitely, effectively remaining in the country as "eternal students." They argued that the regulations, in place since the late 1970s, made it difficult to monitor student visa holders.

Educational institutions and their organizations are warning that the new restrictions will diminish the appeal of American universities to the best foreign students. U.S. universities are already reporting lower enrollment numbers from international students following previous measures by the Trump administration, including the cancellation of thousands of student visas and the freezing of billions of dollars in federal research funds. Media organizations and several foreign governments have also expressed concern over the changes, with the Japanese Embassy in Washington proposing longer stays for foreign correspondents.