How the Trump administration's new rules could affect international students

+ Education How the Trump administration's new rules could affect international students July 20, 20264:41 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition By Elissa Nadworny , Leila Fadel How the Trump administration's new rules could affect international students Listen &middot; 3:33 3:33 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5896300/nx-s1-9855069" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript The Trump administration is placing new restrictions on international student visas.

+ Sponsor Message Transcript LEILA FADEL, HOST: The Trump administration is limiting international student visas to four years. That could have big implications for college finances and innovation in this country. NPR correspondent Elissa Nadworny is here to talk about this change. Good morning, Elissa.

+ ELISSA NADWORNY, BYLINE: Good morning. FADEL: So what does this new role mean for international students? NADWORNY: Well, historically, international students could remain in the States as long as they were making progress in their academic program. And starting in September, students will have a fixed time period to finish - up to four years. And that means if they need more time to finish their degree, which a lot of students do - you know, if they need to take a break or they get sick, if the classes they need to graduate just aren't offered - they're now going to have to apply for a formal extension and pay a fee. And universities worry this could impact programs which often take four - like, longer than four years - medical programs, PhDs. There's also new restrictions on switching programs and changing majors. FADEL: So what's behind the rule change? NADWORNY: So this is all part of the administration's broader crackdown on immigration, tackling what it says is abuse of the U.S. visa system. The Department of Homeland Security says the change will strengthen national security through regular vetting and cutting down on what it calls, quote, "forever students," who they say are perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid leaving the States. Now, we don't have great numbers on this because the current student visa system allows them to do this. Jessica Vaughan leads policy at the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that advocates for fewer immigrants. And she thinks this change is good. JESSICA VAUGHAN: The government needs an opportunity to check in on what people are doing and potentially re-vet them or review their circumstances and make sure that they are still going to qualify to remain here. FADEL: How are colleges reacting? NADWORNY: Well, there's a lot of concern that this is going to make it harder for students to come and study in the U.S. International students play a big role on college campuses, both for their diversity and worldview, but also they bring in a lot of money. They don't qualify for federal aid. Many pay full tuition. I've been on campuses where 20% of the student body comes from outside the U.S. NAFSA: the Association of International Educators called the move misguided and unnecessary bureaucracy. I talked with Fanta Aw, the executive director and CEO of that organization. And she worries that if fewer international students come to the U.S. to get their PhD, to do research, U.S. innovation will take a big hit. FANTA AW: What is at stake is, frankly, the preeminence of American higher education. At a time when there's increased competition, we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot every single time. NADWORNY: And remember, Leila, you know, this comes after a year of cuts to university research grants, attacks on higher ed more broadly. So yeah. It's all part... FADEL: Yeah. NADWORNY: ...Of that. FADEL: And fall classes - they start in just over a month. Would this rule affect that? NADWORNY: This goes into effect September 15. Most fall programs in the U.S. will have already started, so returning and first-year students will have already gotten their visas. But it is likely to affect how many future students enroll. This past academic year, we saw big declines in international student enrollment at graduate programs compared with the year before. And this is also happening when other countries, especially in Europe, are stepping up their recruiting. They're hoping to lure international students there instead of the U.S. FADEL: NPR's Elissa Nadworny, thank you so much. NADWORNY: You bet. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Copyright &copy; 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. 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