This rule will eliminate the previously used Duration of Status (D/S) and set the Fixed Term Limit to the Student and Exhange Visitors (F and J Visas) and representatives of foreign media (I Visa).

We believe this was done to make it easier for ICE to quantify and pursue Overstays. However, as a side effect, this will cause more students to unnecessarily fall out of status as more paperwork will be required to extend the status. This rule doesn’t take into consideration that most of the programs often take more time to complete than the prescribed term limit of 2 and 4 years.

Request for Extension of status are expensive and not guaranteed. USCIS often takes unreasonable amount of time to adjudicate such petitions.

The two year visa limit would apply to Students from Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria which are on the State Sponsor of Terrorism List. Two year term limit would also apply to Students from Countries with Visa overstay rates of over 10% which includes countries such as Nigeria, Vietnam, Nepal. These are in addition to the Students Enrolled in Intensive English-language Programs (IEP).

Source:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/25/2020-20845/establishing-a-fixed-time-period-of-admission-and-an-extension-of-stay-procedure-for-nonimmigrant