The United States is set to tighten rules for foreign student visas, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposing fixed-term limits for F-1 and J-1 visa holders that could replace the decades-old “duration of status” system.
The policy shift, which has cleared a White House review and is expected to be released for public comment in the coming weeks, would replace the long-standing “duration of status” system.
Under the current arrangement, foreign students and exchange visitors can remain in the US for as long as they are enrolled in their academic programmes or participating in approved training and internships.
If adopted, the proposed rule would cap visa durations to a predetermined number of years, requiring students to apply for extensions if their studies or exchanges extend beyond that limit.
DHS has yet to specify the exact term lengths, but similar measures floated under the Trump administration in 2020, later withdrawn by President Joe Biden suggested terms as short as two or four years depending on a student’s country of origin.
The change could have far-reaching implications for hundreds of thousands of international learners, particularly from India.
According to official data, in the 2023/2024 academic year, there were 20,029 Nigerian students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities.
This figure represents a 13.5% increase from the previous year, according to the Open Doors Report.
Nigeria is the 7th largest source of international students in the US globally.
For many of these students, whose academic paths often span multiple years, particularly in doctoral research or combined degree programmes, fixed visa terms could mean additional administrative hurdles, increased costs, and uncertainty over whether they will be allowed to complete their studies without interruption.
Observers note that the DHS plan bears strong similarities to the 2020 Trump-era proposal, which drew heavy criticism from universities, advocacy groups, and international student organisations.
Critics argued that shorter visa durations could discourage talented students from choosing US institutions, potentially undermining the country’s competitiveness in global higher education.
The DHS says public comments will play a key role in shaping the final version of the rule.
If implemented, the change would mark one of the most significant adjustments to US student visa policy in decades, affecting not only Nigerians students but the community of over one million international learners studying in the country each year.
