Trump limits Nigerian, other foreign students to four-year US stay under new visa rule

The Trump administration has introduced a major overhaul of the United States student visa system, limiting most foreign students, including Nigerian students, and exchange visitors to a maximum stay of four years unless they obtain approval from the federal government to extend their stay.

The new regulation, finalised by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), brings an end to the decades-old “duration of status” (D/S) policy, which allowed international students on F-1 visas and exchange visitors on J-1 visas to remain in the United States for the duration of their academic or exchange programmes, provided they maintained their legal immigration status.

Under the revised rule, most international students and exchange visitors will now be admitted for a fixed period of up to four years. Students whose programmes extend beyond that period—including many pursuing doctoral, medical and research-based degrees—must apply for an extension before their authorised stay expires or risk losing their lawful immigration status.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the new policy is aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement, reducing visa overstays and enhancing national security by replacing the open-ended admission system with a fixed period of stay.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the previous “duration of status” policy had remained in place for nearly five decades and created opportunities for abuse of the immigration system.

“For nearly half a century, the outdated ‘duration of status’ system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud,” Mullin said.

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The department acknowledged that some international students may face challenges completing their academic programmes within the new timeframe, noting that many bachelor’s degree programmes now take longer than four years, while doctoral programmes often require six years or more to complete.

In addition to the four-year admission limit, the regulation introduces stricter controls over programme changes, school transfers and post-study immigration procedures.

Graduate students will face tighter restrictions when changing academic programmes or transferring institutions, while the grace period granted after completing studies has been reduced from 60 days to 30 days. Students planning to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT) beyond their authorised stay may also be required to obtain additional approval from immigration authorities.

The new rule is expected to affect thousands of Nigerian students studying in American universities, as well as prospective applicants seeking admission into undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across the United States.

Education experts say the changes could particularly affect students enrolled in programmes that typically extend beyond four years, increasing administrative requirements and uncertainty over visa renewals.

The regulation has drawn criticism from universities and international education organisations.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators described the policy as unnecessary, warning that it could discourage talented international students from choosing the United States as a study destination.

NAFSA Executive Director Fanta Aw argued that the long-standing “duration of status” framework had functioned effectively for decades and that replacing it with fixed admission periods would increase bureaucracy, create uncertainty and weaken America’s competitiveness in global higher education.

Higher education leaders have also expressed concern that the policy could reduce international student enrolment, affect university finances, slow academic research and limit the contribution of highly skilled graduates to the US economy.

Supporters of the regulation, however, argue that fixed admission periods will strengthen immigration oversight, improve visa compliance and reduce opportunities for fraud and unlawful overstays.

The policy forms part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration agenda, which includes tighter visa screening, enhanced border security and stricter enforcement of immigration laws.

For many Nigerian students planning to study in the United States, the new rule represents one of the most significant changes to the student visa system in decades and is expected to influence future education and immigration decisions.

Trump limits Nigerian, other foreign students to four-year US stay under new visa rule

FG suspends planned WAEC, NECO registration fee hike after public outcry

The Federal Government has suspended the proposed increase in WAEC and NECO registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), following widespread public criticism over the planned adjustment.

The decision was announced on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, which said it had withdrawn its earlier letter dated June 18, 2026, proposing a review of examination registration fees.

According to the ministry, the suspension is intended to allow for wider consultations with education stakeholders before any final decision is taken, underscoring the government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.

The ministry explained that although the proposal was driven by the rising cost of conducting credible public examinations, feedback from parents, students, school owners, labour unions and other stakeholders made it necessary to pause implementation and seek broader consensus.

It noted that the cost of organising national examinations has increased significantly in recent years due to inflation and higher operational expenses, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance, supervision, transportation and other critical services required to maintain the integrity of the examinations.

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Officials said the existing registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite these mounting costs, prompting discussions on the need for a review to ensure the long-term sustainability of the examination system.

Reports had indicated that the proposed adjustment would have increased the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations to about ₦50,000 per candidate, a development that generated widespread concern among Nigerians who argued that many families are already struggling with the rising cost of living.

Responding to the public reaction, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended pending extensive consultations with critical stakeholders across the education sector.

The ministry said the decision demonstrates the Federal Government’s determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of students and their families are carefully reviewed and reflect the country’s collective interest.

As part of the consultation process, the ministry will engage the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education experts and other relevant stakeholders.

The consultations are expected to produce recommendations that strike a balance between sustaining the quality and credibility of national examinations and ensuring that registration fees remain affordable for Nigerian families.

The ministry stressed that no increase in WAEC and NECO registration fees will take effect until the consultation process is completed and the Federal Government reaches a final decision.

It reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting students’ welfare, expanding access to quality education and implementing reforms that support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector.

The ministry also thanked Nigerians for their constructive feedback and assured the public that updates would be provided throughout the consultation process.

FG suspends planned WAEC, NECO registration fee hike after public outcry

FG raises WAEC, NECO SSCE registration fee by 82% to N50,000 from 2027

The Federal Government (FG) has approved a new registration fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), with the new rate taking effect from the 2027 examination cycle.

The approval marks an 82 per cent increase from the current N27,500 registration fee and establishes a uniform examination fee for candidates taking the two senior secondary school examinations across the country.

The decision was conveyed in a statement dated June 18, 2026, signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the ministry, the approval followed a formal request by WAEC for an upward review of examination fees ahead of the 2027 examinations due to the rising cost of conducting nationwide examinations.

Ibrahim explained that the approval was based on resolutions reached during a meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and heads of examination bodies on March 31, 2026, where stakeholders deliberated on the need to review examination charges in line with prevailing economic realities.

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He said the minister also directed WAEC and NECO to harmonise their registration fees so that candidates would pay the same amount regardless of the examination body.

According to the statement, “You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Honourable Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE.” It added: “Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of N50,000 only as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal) 2027.”

The ministry directed both examination bodies to communicate the new fee to state ministries of education, school administrators, principals and other relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate awareness and seamless implementation before the 2027 examination period.

Confirming the development, the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the approval had been granted after consultations within the ministry. She confirmed that the upward review had received official approval and would be implemented as scheduled.

The Federal Government explained that the fee review became necessary because of the increasing cost of organising national examinations. According to education officials, examination bodies have faced significantly higher expenses in recent years, including the cost of printing examination materials, transporting sensitive documents, deploying security personnel, paying supervisors and examiners, expanding digital infrastructure, improving logistics and maintaining the integrity of examinations across Nigeria.

Officials said the harmonised fee is expected to help WAEC and NECO sustain the quality, credibility and security of public examinations while eliminating disparities in registration charges between the two examination bodies.

The fee increase also comes as part of broader reforms being implemented by the Federal Government to modernise Nigeria’s examination system. The government has announced plans to fully transition WAEC and NECO examinations to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), strengthen measures against examination malpractice and expand the use of digital technology to improve examination administration, result processing and overall efficiency. The Ministry of Education has consistently maintained that these reforms are aimed at improving transparency, enhancing the credibility of public examinations and aligning Nigeria’s assessment system with international best practices.

The announcement is expected to generate mixed reactions among parents, students, school owners and other education stakeholders. While supporters argue that the increase reflects inflation and the rising cost of administering credible nationwide examinations, critics are likely to express concern over the additional financial burden on families already grappling with the country’s high cost of living.

Education advocates have also urged the Federal Government to introduce more scholarships, examination subsidies and financial support programmes to ensure that students from low-income families are not denied the opportunity to sit for the WAEC and NECO SSCE because of financial constraints.

Unless there is a policy reversal, all candidates registering for the 2027 WAEC and NECO SSCE examinations will pay the new N50,000 registration fee under the harmonised pricing structure approved by the Federal Government.

FG raises WAEC, NECO SSCE registration fee by 82% to N50,000 from 2027