Donald Trump limits foreign student's stay in US to four years

File photo: US president Donald Trump signs a document 

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has finalised a new rule limiting most foreign students and exchange visitors to a maximum stay of four years unless they obtain an extension from the federal government, according to The Washington Post.

The new policy, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), brings an end to the long-standing "duration of status" system, which allowed international students to remain in the United States for the length of their academic programmes, provided they complied with the terms of their visas.

Under the revised rule, most students on F-1 visas and exchange visitors on J-1 visas will be granted an initial stay of up to four years. Those who need to remain in the country beyond that period will be required to apply for and obtain an extension from the federal government.

The move marks a significant shift in US immigration policy affecting international students and exchange visitors, replacing the previous framework that tied their authorised stay to the duration of their academic or exchange programmes rather than a fixed period.

The restriction applies to holders of F-1 student visas and J-1 exchange visitor visas.