New US visa limits unsettle Malaysian students

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia (MNTV) — New U.S. visa rules are creating uncertainty for Malaysian students, who fear that fixed limits on their stay and tighter re-entry requirements could disrupt their studies, the Inquirer reported.

The Trump administration has replaced the long-standing “duration of status” system — which let international students stay as long as they remained enrolled — with fixed admission periods.

Under the changes announced in July, F and J visas for students and exchange visitors are generally capped at four years, and the grace period to leave after graduation is cut from 60 days to 30.

 Students needing longer than four years must apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for an extension, subject to background and biometric checks.

Yasmin Muhaiddin, 44, a mother of three pursuing a PhD in Texas, said the biggest worry is visa stamping: many students are now afraid to travel home in case they cannot re-enter.

“Traveling home for visa stamping is very expensive,” she said, citing flights, fees, and accommodation. 

“If they are unable to return, all the time, money and effort they invested in their education could be lost.” She called the tighter rules disappointing, saying students “are not here to misuse the system, but to get an education.”

The National Assembly of Malaysian Students in the U.S. (Namsa) urged students to plan ahead, review program timelines, and seek help early from university advisers or Malaysian education officials in Washington. U.S. colleges, it said, remain supportive and offer prompt guidance when rules change.