US to tighten visa regulations for foreign students, journalists
The Trump administration has announced new immigration rules that will limit the length of stay for foreign students, cultural exchange participants and foreign journalists in the United States.
The final rule, issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday, replaces the current system—under which F, J and I visas remain valid for the duration of a person’s academic programme, exchange placement or employment—with fixed admission periods.
The regulation will take effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register, subject to congressional review.
The move forms part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration agenda, launched after he returned to office in January 2025. The administration has intensified scrutiny of legal immigration by revoking student visas and green cards in some cases and ending the legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants.
Under the new rules, student and exchange visitor visas will be limited to a maximum of four years, while visas for foreign journalists will be valid for up to 240 days. Chinese journalists will be restricted to a maximum stay of 90 days.
Visa holders will be able to apply for extensions if they wish to remain in the United States beyond the approved period.
China had previously criticised the proposal, with its Foreign Ministry describing the restrictions on Chinese journalists as discriminatory. The Chinese Embassy did not immediately comment on the final rule.
The regulations also introduce new restrictions for international students. Graduate students will no longer be allowed to change their educational objectives or transfer to another institution without authorisation. In addition, the grace period after completing a course of study or training will be reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
Critics have argued that the changes could discourage international students and make it harder for graduates to secure employment in the United States before their legal status expires.
DHS said the reforms are necessary because of the growing number of visa holders. According to the department, more than 1.8 million student visa admissions were recorded in 2024, an increase of more than 11% from the previous year.
The department also reported issuing visas to more than 500,000 exchange visitors and 37,300 foreign media representatives during the 2024 fiscal year.
According to DHS, the increasing number of temporary visitors has made it more difficult to monitor compliance with visa conditions, noting that some student and exchange visa holders have remained in the country for decades.
Under the new framework, individuals wishing to stay beyond their authorised period must either obtain an extension from DHS or leave the United States and seek readmission through a new entry process.
Source: Reuters
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