Kentucky’s international college students will only have four years to complete their studies without additional effort under new federal visa regulations.
The new rules, which took effect Sep. 14, limit stays to four years. Previously, student visas covered the entire term to complete a degree.
Several education and workforce organizations filed a lawsuit against the change in August, and a judge granted nationwide, temporary relief in September.
In a U.S. Department of Homeland Security announcement of the visa changes, Secretary Markwayne Mullins said the duration allowed through student visas was “outdated” and claimed it “compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud.”
Nima Kulkarni, a state representative and founder and executive director of the New Americans Initiative, said there’s not a lot of fraud possible in these programs, however.
“It's unclear what exactly is spurring on this particular restriction, because these really are some of the most highly sought-after individuals in the world, and so they have options,” Kulkarni said of international students.
She said some of those who apply for student visas are being recruited by other countries who seek their research and skills.
“One thing that I've heard about from people who are impacted — so these are the students themselves — is how are they expected to plan for their education or career or research now?” Kulkarni said.
While many undergraduate degrees are structured to be completed in four years, graduate degrees can vary.
According to data provided by the Council on Postsecondary Education, Kentucky welcomed about 2,000 international graduate students at public state institutions in the decade from 2015 to 2025. The majority of those studied at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville.
Kulkarni pointed to students who have come for a degree with plans to take advantage of the “optional practical training” allowed under the previous student visa regulations. Now, students have to request that for a fee, which DHS proposes should cost $70,000.
In addition to university admissions processes, international students have hoops to jump through with their consulate. Additionally, student visa applicants must also go through social media screening, and there are fees associated with steps of the process.
The application processing fee is $185, according to U.S. Department of State. The fee to be included in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System is $350 for Type F student visas.
International students can also pay a higher rate of tuition. At UK, nonresident graduate tuition is more than $11,000 more than state resident tuition, and at U of L, nonresident graduate tuition is $8,000 more.
“It's incredibly complicated and involves various steps with various agencies that are separate from whatever a ‘regular,’ American-born student would have to go through just to get admission to a college or university,” Kulkarni said.
According to international education organization Shorelight, 35% of student visas were denied globally in 2025, the highest rate in a decade.
Largely, Kentucky universities declined to interview with WEKU specifically on the Trump administration’s policy change.
“International students are an important part of our campus community, and we are committed to supporting their academic success and well-being,” a spokesperson for UK wrote in an emailed statement Sept. 10.
The university declined to connect WEKU with any international students.
UK data indicates most students complete master’s degrees in two years, within the limits of the new Trump visa rule. Doctorates, however, average five years.
“We are reviewing the new federal policy on visas and any implications for the institution. The university is assessing the potential impact on current and prospective international students, and we will work closely with anyone impacted as additional details become available,” the university’s statement reads.
Students needing longer than four years will now have to apply for an extension, according to DHS, or leave the U.S. and obtain a new “period of admission” from Customs and Board Protection.
According to data provided by Office of Institutional Research, Analytics, & Decision Support at U of L, it took an average of 9.8 semesters to complete a doctoral degree and 4.8 semesters to complete a master’s degree among postgrad students in the 2025-26 school year. The median time it takes to complete a doctoral degree is 8 semesters.
Other public state institutions have postgraduate degrees that, on average, take four years or less to complete. Eastern Kentucky University and Western Kentucky University said students in their doctoral and master's programs on average require three years or less.
Murray State University said most of its master’s degrees need about two years, but doctoral programs vary, usually taking about three years.
UK and U of L are tier 1 research institutions and contribute to the nation’s overall prowess in science. Many of collegiate research labs are staffed with international students.
“You take this restriction and constraint put on international students, and you pair that with the cuts in federal funding to our grant programs in the sciences and in health, and all of those combined is going to be devastating to any kind of research and development that our country has really led on,” Kulkarni said.
Students are also not allowed to eventually join the workforce under the visa rules, Kulkarni pointed out.
“You're really just saying to people, ‘Don't come here and plan to live your life here,’” Kulkarni said. “Don't plan to build a business here. Don't plan to found a company or get your patent. Go somewhere else because we might just kick you out in four years and not allow you to continue that research or build that business and we may not allow you to get that visa in the first place.”
