Restrictions on the student sector

The Trump administration, in a relentless attempt to curb immigration, proposed a new rule through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would substantially restrict visas for foreign students.

Broadly speaking, the current administration of the US proposes to issue student visas with a fixed time period instead of duration of status. It is important to clarify that permits with duration of status allow foreign students to reside in the country until they complete their studies. However, the Trump government proposes to reform this rule and grant permits for two years, with the possibility of extension to 4 years.

With this policy, the current administration intends to prevent foreign students from residing in the US after completing their studies. If this rule goes into effect, it would only apply to 59 countries.

Apart from that, in one of our most recent articles, we talk about a study that reveals that the DHS database used to implement this policy is not updated and that penalizing foreign students based on wrong information could have irreversible repercussions for the local education sector.

Contact Motion Law if you have any questions about your immigration application.

Expert comments on the Trump administration restrictions

David L. Di Maria, an international education specialist, recently commented on the Trump administration’s restrictions on foreign students.

He states that these restrictions could harm the education sector, which benefits greatly from the investment and talent of foreign students. It could also decrease the US’ competitiveness compared to other countries that have more welcoming immigration policies.

Adding to that, official figures from the National Center for Education Statistics reveal that people usually complete their studies in a period of four years and four months. Therefore, Di Maria assures that Trump’s policies are not only unreal, taking this figure into account, but that foreign students will no longer feel attracted to the US if they need to extend their residence permits while studying.

Other than that, foreign students play a major role in sectors like science and technology, which make the US a world power. In fact, 1 out of 3 scientists and engineers in the country comes from another nation.

Therefore, in Di Maria’s opinion, curbing the entry of foreign students could be extremely detrimental to the country, and “The uncertainty over whether or not a degree could be completed within the time limits set by the proposed rule would further weaken the ability of the U.S. to attract global academic talent.”

Do you need help with an immigration case?

In light of changes implemented by the Trump administration on the immigration sector, it is essential and imperative to have the constant accompaniment of experts, who will help you choose the process that best suits your current needs and guide you towards the success of your immigration application.

On the other hand, if you are already within the US and your residence permit is about to expire, it is also important to seek reliable help to find the best alternative for your particular case.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.