Biden administration will not pursue fixed time limits on student visas.
July 8, 2021
The Department of Homeland Security has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have attacked fixed time limits to certain student visas. In September, the Trump administration proposed adding a fixed end date to student visas when they are issued, which would have been a departure from the earlier practice of allowing the visas to remain valid as long as the international student is enrolled in school. DHS detailed its withdrawal of the proposal in the Federal Register on Tuesday. The agency said it received roughly 32,000 comments in the month after the rule was recommended, and more than 99% of those expressed opposition to the plan. The commenters said the proposed rule was discriminatory and would heavily burden students and others affected by the time limits, as they would need to apply for extensions.