Student Visa Integrity Act of 2026

What Would Change

Today, foreign students and exchange visitors (F, J, M visa holders) are often admitted for "duration of status," meaning they can stay as long as they maintain their program and status. Schools have certain reporting requirements but face less severe penalties for non-compliance. There are no explicit requirements for schools to disclose ties to the Chinese government, and officials don't always need to be U.S. citizens or undergo specific background checks. Employers of foreign students are not universally required to use E-Verify or make specific attestations about U.S. workers. Students can sometimes change their major. Nationals from certain countries are not broadly prohibited from specific fields of study like flight training or nuclear science, or from all higher education. After this bill, foreign students would be admitted for a definite period, typically up to four years, with shorter two-year limits for those from certain countries or attending schools not using E-Verify. They would also face limits on online study and would not be able to change their major. Educational institutions would need to be accredited, disclose financial ties to the Chinese government, and face new fines or suspensions for reporting failures. School officials would need to be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, pass background checks, and complete training. Employers of foreign students would be required to use E-Verify, report employment details quickly, and attest that foreign students are not replacing U.S. workers. Nationals from designated "foreign adversary" countries or state sponsors of terrorism would be denied visas for all higher education or specific fields like flight training or nuclear science. The government would also deploy a modernized SEVIS II system.