US Tightens Visa Rules, Limits Stay Duration for Foreign Students, Journalists

The United States government has finalised new regulations that will place stricter limits on how long foreign students and journalists can remain in the country, marking another major step in President Donald Trump’s administration’s broader effort to tighten immigration controls.

Under the new rules, which could take effect as early as September, international students entering the US on student visas will no longer be allowed indefinite stays. Instead, they will be admitted for the duration of their academic programmes, subject to a maximum period of four years.

Foreign journalists working in the United States will also face new restrictions. They will be allowed to stay for a maximum of 240 days, approximately eight months and may apply for additional 240-day extensions.

However, journalists from China will face a shorter initial admission period of 90 days under the new framework.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which introduced the changes, said the reforms are designed to strengthen oversight of foreign nationals and address concerns surrounding long-term visa extensions.

The department argued that the previous system allowed some foreign students to remain in the country indefinitely by repeatedly extending their studies, describing them as “forever students.”

According to DHS, the existing admission system, which has been in place for international students since the late 1970s, limited the government’s ability to effectively monitor visa holders.

The latest policy forms part of a wider immigration agenda pursued by the Trump administration, which includes stricter enforcement measures, increased scrutiny of legal immigration channels and reforms affecting foreign nationals seeking to live, study or work in the United States.

The proposed rules attracted significant public attention after DHS opened them for review in August 2025.

The department received nearly 22,000 public comments before finalising the regulations, but retained most elements of the original proposal.

The changes have drawn criticism from sections of the education and media sectors, with universities warning that tighter restrictions could reduce America’s appeal to international talent.

The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a coalition representing colleges and universities, criticised the proposal, warning that it could weaken the ability of US institutions to attract top students from around the world.

The United States remains the world’s leading destination for international students, hosting more than 1.1 million foreign students during the 2023–2024 academic year.

Official data showed that international students contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023 through tuition payments, living expenses and related activities.

International media organisations and diplomatic representatives also raised concerns over the impact of shorter visa periods on foreign journalists covering events in the United States.

Some media groups and foreign governments, including the Embassy of Japan, had urged DHS to allow longer admission periods, between two and five years for journalists assigned to US bureaus.

Those requests were rejected by the department, alongside proposals for faster visa processing and limits on application fees for journalists.

The Trump administration had previously attempted to introduce similar restrictions during his first term in office, but the policy was later withdrawn under former President Joe Biden’s administration.

The new regulations will now face review by the Republican-controlled US Congress before full implementation.

The move comes as the Trump administration continues to reshape America’s immigration framework, with supporters arguing that tighter controls are necessary for national security and regulatory oversight, while critics warn they could affect education, research, journalism and international engagement.

AFP