International students in the United States are facing growing confusion after the Trump administration changed visa rules, prompting an emergency briefing by the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles to explain the new requirements. The revised policy takes effect Sept. 15 and is expected to affect students already in the country as well as new arrivals.
The biggest change is a four-year maximum stay, with future extensions requiring proof of strict, unavoidable reasons such as illness. Simple academic problems or warnings will not qualify. Under the new system, the Department of Homeland Security, rather than school-designated officials, will directly oversee and review stay management.
The rules also sharply limit academic changes and transfers. Undergraduate students may change majors only after completing their first year, while graduate students are generally barred from changing majors or educational goals during enrollment. Transfers to another school will not be allowed except in extreme cases, such as a school closing. Students also will not be able to repeat the same or a lower degree level to extend their stay, ending the practice of pursuing multiple master’s degrees to remain in the U.S.
Experts at the briefing said the new rules are likely to make airport screening stricter and urged students to prepare carefully before traveling back to the United States. They said students should carry proof of full-time enrollment and transcripts when reentering the country, and check their passport expiration date because the length of stay may be tied to the passport’s validity. The briefing also warned students to be cautious about voice phishing scams targeting international students.
