F-1 visa: DIGNITY Act Aims to Repeal ‘Intent to Leave’ Rule

F-1 visa: The United States, once considered the most sought-after destination for global scholars, is witnessing a steady decline in international student enrolment—a trend closely tied to tightening immigration controls and evolving US study visa rules 2025 under the Trump administration. With visa scrutiny intensifying, many prospective students are reconsidering their plans, sparking concern among universities that rely heavily on international talent and diversity.

F-1 visa: Stricter Enforcement Drives Students Elsewhere

Over the past few years, consular officers have adopted a more rigid approach to assessing student visa applications. Increased questioning, demands for additional documentation, and a heightened focus on the applicant’s long-term intentions have created an atmosphere of uncertainty.
Education consultants say even highly qualified candidates are now hesitant to apply, fearing rejections based on subjective criteria.

This shift comes at a time when competing destinations—Canada, the UK, Australia, and parts of Europe—are actively easing their visa policies to attract skilled global learners. The US, meanwhile, is tightening the doorway.

DIGNITY Act of 2025: A Possible Lifeline

Amid concerns over falling enrolments, US lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill—the DIGNITY Act of 2025—seeking to modernise America’s outdated student visa framework. Led by Congresswomen María Elvira Salazar and Veronica Escobar, along with 20 co-sponsors, the bill proposes the abolition of one of the most controversial requirements in the visa process: the Intent to Leave Rule.

F-1 visa: The Problem with ‘Intent to Leave’

For decades, student visa applicants have been required to prove that they intend to return home after completing their education. This “non-immigrant intent” rule obliges students to demonstrate strong ties to their home country—often through property ownership or financial commitments.

However, many applicants, especially young students, struggle to present such evidence. As a result, visas are sometimes denied not because they lack academic merit or financial means, but because their long-term intentions appear ambiguous.

If the DIGNITY Act passes, consular officers will no longer be able to deny a visa solely based on the applicant’s inability to prove intent to leave. For students, this could remove one of the most unpredictable barriers in the application process.

But Staying After Studies Still Requires Existing Visas

It is important to note that eliminating the Intent to Leave Rule does not automatically grant students the right to remain in the US after graduation. Individuals who wish to stay must still qualify for work-based pathways such as H-1B, O-1, or employment-sponsored green cards.
The reform simply ensures that students are not penalised during the application stage for keeping their future options open.

Fixed-Term Admissions: A New Challenge Ahead

While the potential repeal of the Intent to Leave Rule offers hope, another upcoming change may complicate matters.

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed shifting F, J, and I visa holders from the traditional “duration of status” model to a fixed-term admission system.
Under the current duration-based approach, international students can remain in the US as long as they maintain their academic status—allowing flexibility during extended research, internships, or program changes.

A fixed-term system, however, would require students to leave the US once a predetermined period expires unless they file for an extension. Critics argue that this could disrupt academic progress and create additional administrative hurdles.

Universities worry that such rigid timelines may discourage students from enrolling in research-heavy programs, where course lengths are inherently unpredictable.