The United States is going to give enormous relief to students who want to study in the country. The new Dignity Act-2025 proposes some key changes in F-1 student visas, commonly known as F1 Visas. This law aims at removing the ‘Intent to Leave’ rule that requires students to prove they will return to their home country after graduation.
Current Challenges Facing F-1 Visa Holders
Currently, many F-1 visa applications are rejected due to the ‘Intent to Leave’ requirement: students are supposed to demonstrate to a consular officer that they intend to leave the US after their studies. They normally present documents regarding their assets or employment opportunities in their home country.
This policy has caused problems for foreign students, especially from India. Fewer F-1 visas were issued to Indian students this year. Most rejections occur because applicants cannot prove they intend to return home.
Expected Relief Under the Dignity Act
If the Dignity Act passes, they may not be required to establish an intention to leave the US. This could facilitate easier approval of F-1 visas for foreign students. As one expert maintains, without such restriction, the number of international students coming to the US might grow.
Current Status of the Bill
Dignity Act is a proposed bill yet. It shall only come into force following its passage in the two houses of Congress and upon signing by the President. Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security proposed amendments to the F-1 student visa rules. It has recommended removing the ‘duration of stay’ requirement and granting student visas with limited term residence permission that will limit the time students can stay in US for study purposes.
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