New Delhi: In a significant overhaul of the United States’ immigration framework, the Donald Trump administration has announced stricter visa regulations for foreign students, journalists and exchange visitors, a move that is expected to affect thousands of Indians aspiring to study, work or participate in cultural programmes in the US.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new rule replacing the existing flexible visa system with fixed admission periods for F (student), J (exchange visitor) and I (journalist) visas. The regulation is scheduled to come into effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, subject to Congressional review.
Under the revised rules, F and J visa holders will generally be permitted to remain in the United States for a maximum of four years, replacing the current “duration of status” system that allows them to stay for the length of their academic programme or authorised employment. Journalists travelling on I visas will face even stricter limits, with visas valid for up to 240 days, while Chinese nationals in this category will receive visas valid for only 90 days.
The new framework also introduces tighter academic restrictions. Graduate students will no longer be allowed to alter their educational objectives during their stay without authorisation, and transferring to another educational institution will require official approval. Additionally, the grace period granted to students after completing their studies or training has been reduced from 60 days to 30 days, requiring graduates to either leave the country, secure another valid immigration status or obtain an extension within a shorter timeframe.
Visa holders seeking to remain in the US beyond the prescribed admission period will have to apply for an extension through the DHS or depart the country and seek readmission by re-entering with valid authorisation.
The policy is expected to have a notable impact on Indian students, who represent one of the largest international student communities in the United States. According to available data, around 300,000 Indian students were enrolled in American educational institutions as of January 2025, with a majority pursuing graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Official figures from the US State Department show that in 2024, India accounted for 90,129 F visas issued to students, 15,208 J visas for exchange visitors and 426 I visas for journalists.
The latest announcement follows a broader immigration crackdown that had already led to a substantial decline in student visa approvals. During June and July 2025, the number of F-1 visas issued to Indian students reportedly fell by 69 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2024, dropping from 41,336 to 12,776.
According to the DHS, more than 1.8 million student visa admissions were recorded in 2024, marking an increase of over 11 per cent from the previous year. During the same fiscal year, the US also admitted more than 500,000 exchange visitors and around 37,300 members of the international media.
The department stated that the growing volume of temporary visitors has made it increasingly challenging to effectively monitor compliance with immigration regulations. It also cited instances where students and exchange visitors remained in the United States for extended periods beyond what was originally intended under their visa categories.
The rule had been anticipated for several months after the DHS submitted it to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in May. Following the completion of the review process in mid-June, the administration has now formally unveiled the policy, signalling a tougher approach towards immigration oversight while creating new compliance requirements for international students, journalists and exchange programme participants, including a large number from India.
