Under the new rule, F and J visa holders will be permitted to remain in the U.S. for the length of their program, but not longer than four years.
If a student needs additional time to complete an academic program, they must apply for an extension on their visa through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Currently, student visas are permitted to last for the duration of their studies, in addition to a period of up to three years after graduation through optional practical training, better known as OPT.
For thousands of graduates, OPT has served as a crucial period during which they find employment, which in turn opens the door for them to qualify for the longer-term H-1B visa.
The rule also shortens the amount of time F visa holders have to depart or transfer from school and change status after their graduation from 60 to 30 days.
The duration of I visas, for members of the media, will be capped at 240 days by the new rule, and 90 days for Chinese nationals. Under current rules, journalists’ visas can last years.