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New Visa Rules Worry Some Students

Alexandra Macia

   The U.S. has proposed a new rule for [1]international students that
   would set [2]student visas to a fixed four-year term.

   International students looking to extend their stay would be required
   to apply for an extension, according to the new rule. The rule would
   also limit international student visas to a fixed two-year term if
   students are from a country with a visa overstay rate above 10% or a
   country on the U.S. State Department's State Sponsor of Terrorism list.

   "This change would provide the Department with additional protections
   and mechanisms to exercise the oversight necessary to vigorously
   enforce our nation's immigration laws, protect the integrity of these
   nonimmigrant programs, and promptly detect national security concerns,"
   the [3]new rule states.

   Current student visa guidelines allow for students to stay in the U.S.
   during their "duration of status.'' In other words, student visa
   holders can stay in the U.S. as long as they are enrolled in school and
   follow the rules of their immigration status.

References

   1. https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students
   2. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html
   3. https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-20845.pdf

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