US Student Visa 2026 rules have received a major legal setback after a US federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s proposed fixed-duration limits for international students. Judge F. Dennis Saylor issued a preliminary injunction on September 14, preventing implementation of the Department of Homeland Security rule that would have replaced the long-standing “duration of status” system with fixed admission periods for F-1 and J-1 students. The proposed policy had included a general four-year cap for student stays. The judge found that DHS had not followed required legal procedures and had not adequately considered less restrictive alternatives. The ruling is significant for international students, universities and research institutions because the new policy had raised concerns about disruptions to academic programmes and international travel. Indian students planning to study in the US should follow official university and US government updates because the legal case could continue and the policy may change further.
US Student Visa 2026: Court Blocks New F-1 Stay Limits
