How would a proposed rule limiting F-1 student visas to a maximum of four years affect international students in the USA?

This is no longer a proposal you need to watch and wait on: it has already been finalized and takes effect from September 2026. If your program runs longer than four years, or you might change majors, you need to plan around a hard federal deadline rather than your university's own discretion.

What Changes Under the New Rule

Who Is Most Affected

• PhD candidates, medical students and dual-degree scholars whose programs typically run past four years now must file a formal Extension of Status with USCIS.
• Students changing majors, adding a minor that extends graduation, or moving from a master's into a PhD face a new federal review and a fresh four-year clock.
• OPT and the 24-month STEM OPT extension still work, though a temporary six-month grace period applies right after the rule's rollout for students filing extensions alongside OPT.
• Students already enrolled before the rule took effect are generally protected for their current program, but risk losing that protection if they leave the US and try to re-enter mid-program.

My Advice

If you are a PhD or dual-degree applicant, ask your prospective department directly how they plan to handle the new Extension of Status filings for students in your cohort, and build in extra months of buffer before your expected graduation date. Avoid international travel during any period where your extension application is pending with USCIS.