The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today that international students will now only be allowed to stay in the United States for four years under their visa.
The new ruling will officially be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, July 17. The ruling guts a 1978 policy, known as ‘duration of status,’ that allowed international college and university students to stay in the U.S. until their program ended.
The change is set to go into effect on Sept. 15, 2026 — 60 days after its publication. Current international students will start their four-year stay on that day.
As of the 2024-25 academic year, there were nearly 8,000 international students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which accounts for 15% of the student body.
UW-Madison sent letters July 17 to all visa international students with information about the ruling and its implications.
Visa holders can apply for an extension, which would include “biometric vetting, background checks and fraud screenings,” according to DHS.
The DHS press release claims the ‘duration of status’ was a “loophole,” and called international students staying for an indefinite period of time “forever students.” DHS said the new ruling “restores integrity to the nation’s immigration system, combats rampant visa abuse and strengthens national security through regular vetting.”
“For decades, foreign students have been admitted into the U.S. indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse our immigration system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the U.S.,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in the statement. “This final rule ensures that foreign students remain focused on their primary purpose: completing their studies and returning home.”
In an email, School of Journalism and Mass Communication Director Mike Wagner told SJMC students the ruling is an “incredibly drastic departure from the current rule that allowed students to stay in country for the duration of the program they were learning in while in the U.S.”
“The current rule has allowed our students to flourish academically, professionally, and civically for decades – our programs have literally been models for others around the globe,” Wagner said. “The rule change will also affect this record of accomplishment.”
Audrey Lopez-Stane is the state news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has written in-depth on free speech on campus, higher education and elections including the Wisconsin Supreme Court race and upcoming governor primary. Audrey is currently an intern with WisPolitics and will spend the summer working for Wisconsin Watch. Follow her on X @AudreyLopez2028.
