The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to shorten the validity period of visas for international students to a maximum of four years.

Previously, most student visas, particularly the F-1 visa, were issued for up to five years depending on reciprocity agreements with applicants’ home countries. The new policy, according to DHS, is aimed at tightening immigration control and ensuring more frequent reviews of foreign students’ stay in the United States.

The move has sparked concerns among education stakeholders, as it could increase the financial and administrative burden on international students while also affecting the long-term planning of U.S. universities that rely heavily on foreign enrollment.