The Donald Trump administration has unveiled sweeping changes to the US student visa system that could significantly affect hundreds of thousands of Indian students studying in America or planning to head there in the coming years.

Under a new rule announced by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), most international students will no longer be allowed to remain in the US for the "duration of status" tied to their academic programme. Instead, the current system will be replaced with a fixed admission period, with student (F) and exchange visitor (J) visas generally valid for up to four years. After that, individuals will need to secure an extension or risk falling out of legal status.

This is part of US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown that has already seen stricter scrutiny of immigration, student visa revocations and tighter enforcement measures since he returned to the White House in January 2025.

If implemented, graduate students will no longer be able to change their educational objectives after beginning their programme without authorisation. They will also require approval before transferring to another institution. The grace period after completing studies or authorised training has also been reduced from 60 days to 30 days for students covered under the new framework.

WHAT CURRENT INDIAN STUDENTS SHOULD DO

While the announcement has sparked concern, immigration expert says students already studying in the US should not panic.

Nicolo Rivolta, Head of Immigration at Alma Immigration, said the most important point is that students currently in duration-of-status before the rule takes effect will largely remain protected.

"The first thing to understand is that nothing changes for you on day one. If you're in the US in duration of status before September 15, 2026, you stay in D/S until the programme end date on your current I-20, or the expiration of your current EAD if that's later, with an outer limit of November 14, 2030. You also keep the 60-day grace period. You don't need to file anything, pay anything, or replace your I-94."

However, he warned that international travel could fundamentally change a student's immigration status.

"The one decision that changes this is travel. If you leave the US and re-enter on or after September 15, your D/S protection ends at the border. You come back with a fixed-date I-94, a 30-day departure period instead of 60. So plan international trips, including the December break, accordingly. Travel before September 15 has no effect."

Rivolta advised students to plan ahead instead of waiting until deadlines approach.

"Sit down with your DSO before the fall semester gets busy and map your program end date against these timelines."

He also urged students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT) extension to pay close attention to the transition period.

"If you're filing for OPT or STEM OPT, know the transition window. Students still in D/S who timely file the I-765, on or before March 18, 2027, generally don't need a separate Extension of Stay application. File early within that window rather than at the edge of it."

THREE STEPS EVERY INDIAN STUDENT SHOULD TAKE NOW

According to Rivolta, students should begin preparing immediately instead of waiting for the new system to come into force.

His first recommendation is to verify academic documents.

"Pull up your I-20 and check your program end date, because that date now drives everything else."

His second piece of advice concerns travel records.

"Check your I-94 online after every single entry into the US, since CBP officers do make mistakes and those mistakes now carry real consequences. A common one is an officer shortening your I-94 to match a passport with less than six months of validity left. If the date looks wrong, raise it with your DSO or an immigration attorney immediately."

His third recommendation is to avoid waiting until the last minute to file extension requests.

"When the time comes, file your extension early. You're generally eligible up to 180 days before your status expires, and that cushion matters in a system DHS itself projects will absorb roughly 400,000 new extension filings a year."

MISTAKES THAT COULD COST INDIAN STUDENTS

Rivolta cautioned that several common mistakes could become much more serious under the new system.

"The mistakes we expect to see most: treating the grace period as your job-search runway, which was always a bad idea and is worse now that it's 30 days for anyone under the new framework. Filing an extension during the departure period, which preserves your status but leaves you unable to work while it's pending; if keeping your job or stipend matters, file before your program end date. Travelling casually during the transition without realising it resets your entire framework. And rushing your DSO for last-minute extensions to get ahead of the rule, which DHS has said it may view unfavourably in future discretionary decisions."

The new rule is scheduled to take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, subject to congressional review.

WHY THE RULE MATTERS FOR INDIA

For many Indians, the US continues to be the dream destination for higher education and a path to better career opportunities.

That connection has only grown stronger over the years. According to the Migration Policy Institute, about 3.2 million Indian immigrants were living in the US in 2024, making them the country's second-largest foreign-born community. Since 2010, the Indian-origin population has grown by 78 per cent—almost three times faster than the overall foreign-born population.

Indian immigrants are also among the most highly educated groups in the US, with 82 per cent holding at least a bachelor's degree, underscoring their strong presence across universities, technology, healthcare and other skilled professions.

Given the scale of Indian enrolment in US universities, the new visa framework is expected to affect thousands of students, if implemented. While current students admitted before the transition retain important protections, experts say prospective students should prepare for a system that will require more careful planning, closer monitoring of immigration documents and timely applications for extensions if they intend to stay in the United States beyond their initial period of admission.

- Ends

Published By:

Satyam Singh

Published On:

Jul 21, 2026 22:27 IST