Washington: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a new rule aimed at limiting the duration foreign students, professors, physicians, and other visa holders can stay in the United States without additional scrutiny. According to Kuwait News Agency, the rule intends to prevent visa misuse and enhance the DHS's capability to monitor these individuals effectively. A spokesperson from the DHS emphasized that previous administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the country indefinitely, leading to safety risks, increased taxpayer expenses, and disadvantages for US citizens. The proposed rule seeks to end such practices by setting specific time limits for certain visa holders' stay in the US, thereby reducing the federal government's oversight burden. Since 1978, foreign students with F visas have been admitted for an indefinite period known as "duration of status," allowing them to remain in the US without further vetting. The new rule, proposed under P resident Trump, would establish authorized admission and extension periods for foreign students and exchange visitors, not exceeding a four-year period. It would also limit the initial admission period for foreign media representatives to 240 days, with a potential extension of up to 240 days, contingent on the length of the temporary activity or assignment. This fixed time frame would necessitate foreign nationals to apply for authorization to extend their stay through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), ensuring regular assessments by the DHS for continued residence in the US. The DHS aims to improve oversight through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), by making information more accessible and reducing the number of visa holders in the country. The proposed rule, initially introduced by President Trump in 2020, was withdrawn by the Biden Administration in 2021, an action criticized by the DHS as detri mental to US citizens and taxpayers.
