Washington tightens visa rules for foreign students

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced stricter visa rules for foreign students, limiting F and J visa holders to a maximum stay of four years and requiring formal extensions for those needing additional time. The policy ends the previous 'duration of status' system, reduces the post-graduation departure grace period from 60 to 30 days, and aims to prevent what officials call abuse of the immigration system by perpetual enrollment.