The Trump administration has banned international students from staying in the United States for more than four years.

The Donald Trump administration has introduced a new rule limiting international students to four years of study in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security announced the change on July 16. The department emphasized that this is a departure from long-standing practice. Wis10.

The rule will come into effect in September. It stipulates that students will be able to stay in the country for longer than four years only with special permission from federal authorities. Furthermore, restrictions on changing majors and educational programs are being introduced, with stricter conditions and deadlines now being established.

Current regulations give students significantly more freedom. They are generally allowed to stay in the US for as long as it takes to complete their studies, and many educational programs are initially designed to last more than four years.

On the subject: Personal experience: How higher education in the US differs from studying in China, and where students are better off

University leaders opposed the change, arguing that it would create additional administrative burdens for both institutions and federal agencies. Zuzana Wootson, deputy director of federal policy at the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, called the move unnecessary. "This measure is unnecessary and duplicates existing mechanisms," she said. "International students are already among the most closely monitored categories of non-immigrants in the United States. They are closely monitored by both the Department of Homeland Security and educational institutions."

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the new rule closes a loophole that authorities believed students were exploiting to delay their studies. "By establishing clear and definitive limits on these visas, the United States is regaining its ability to properly screen, evaluate, and monitor individuals within its borders," he noted. "The final rule ensures that international students are focused on their primary goal—completing their studies and returning home."

This decision is the latest step in tightening policies towards foreign students. Last spring, the legal status of many students was revoked en masse, forcing them to go into hiding or leave the country for fear of being detained for illegal stay.

Federal authorities also required visa applicants to provide access to their social media accounts, leading to increased scrutiny. Additionally, they imposed entry bans on citizens of more than a dozen countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, further complicating visa applications and entry into the United States for study.

The new rule comes as the number of international students at US universities is declining. This has the greatest impact on institutions with small endowments and a high proportion of students from abroad. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid and typically pay full tuition.

Higher education officials warn that growing uncertainty could push international applicants to choose other countries, which in turn will impact the labor market and the economy as a whole.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

"At a time when global competition for talent is only intensifying, this policy sends the exact opposite message to the world," said NAFSA CEO Fanta Au. "It tells the brightest students and scholars that the United States is becoming less open, less predictable, and less committed to its old principles."

Read also on ForumDaily:

Who earns the highest salaries in the US?

Which degrees pay off in the US, and which don't?

Three million Americans can't retire because they're still paying off student loans.

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.