US Ends Grace Period for Student and Academic Visas, Limits Stay to Four Years

The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced the cancellation of the "grace period" that previously allowed foreign students, academics, and media representatives to remain in the country without a defined maximum stay. Under the new guidelines issued by the Trump administration, holders of F, J, and I visas will now be limited to a maximum stay of four years. This policy change is expected to directly affect thousands of Israeli students and researchers, who will now be required to submit formal extension requests, undergo background checks, and provide fingerprints. Homeland Security Secretary Mark Morgan stated that the outdated "duration of status" system had compromised national security and fostered an environment conducive to immigration fraud for nearly half a century. The new regulation is set to take effect within two months.