The US government is changing the rules for international student visas. Starting September 15, 2026, the US Department of Homeland Security will replace the old system. The countdown has already started for these new rules.
New Rules For Student Stays
Previously, students could stay in the US for as long as they needed to finish their degrees. The government called this old system Duration of Status. The new rules limit student stays. Now, the government will only allow students to stay for up to four years. They will also use the length of the study program if it is shorter than four years.
This change will affect many Indian students because they often study for master’s or doctoral degrees. These degrees take more than four years to complete. If a student needs more time to finish their degree, they must ask the government for an extension. They must file Form I-539 to extend their stay. It’s a big hurdle for students who want to avoid extra paperwork.
Changes To Working After Graduation
The government is also changing the rules for working after graduation. Students call this work program Optional Practical Training, or OPT. Usually, students on OPT get a standard 12-month work permit. Students in science and math programs can get a 24-month extension. These work periods will remain the same. However, the government is changing the application process.
If a student’s four-year stay limit ends while they are working on OPT, they must apply for both work permission and a stay extension. The government is offering some temporary relief. Students who have valid student visas on September 15, 2026, do not need to file the stay extension form right away. If they apply for OPT on or before March 18, 2027, they only need to file Form I-765 for work permission. This temporary rule also helps science and math students who apply for their work extension before that same date.
But there is a catch. If a student leaves the US before they apply for OPT, they lose this benefit. When they return, they must file both forms.
Shorter Time To Leave The Country
Students already studying in the US must also follow these rules. The government will automatically switch them to the new system on September 15, 2026. Their stay will also face a four-year limit.
The government is also shortening the time students can stay in the country after they finish their studies. Previously, students had 60 days to leave the US or change their visa status. Now, they only have 30 days.
Indian students make up the largest group of international students in the US. Over 3.6 lakh Indian students studied at US universities in the 2024-25 school year. Around 1.4 lakh Indian students worked on OPT during that same time.
