WASHINGTON: The United States has introduced stricter rules for extending visas held by international students, making renewals subject to enhanced government scrutiny and approval.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a final regulation that formally eliminates the legal framework known as “duration of status” (D/S).
Officials said the previous provision allowed certain non-immigrants—including foreign students, exchange program participants, and foreign media representatives—to remain in the United States for extended periods without a fixed end date, subject to their immigration status.
Under the new regulation, individuals holding F, J, and I non-immigrant visas will now be admitted for a specified period of stay rather than an open-ended duration.
The State Department said that F and J visas will generally be limited to a maximum stay of four years, with any extension requiring mandatory federal approval.
Applicants seeking an extension will also be required to undergo biometric verification, background checks, and fraud screening as part of the review process.
In another significant change, the grace period for F-1 student visa holders to leave the United States after completing their studies or authorized stay has been reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
U.S. authorities said the new measures are intended to strengthen immigration oversight and improve compliance with visa regulations for temporary visitors in student, exchange, and media categories.
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