US plans stricter visa limits for international students, journalists

The United States government has announced plans to shorten the validity period of visas issued to international students and foreign journalists, a move the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says is intended to strengthen oversight and prevent abuse.

Under the proposed rule, F visas for international students will be capped at a maximum of four years, regardless of the length of their academic programme. 

Currently, such visas are valid for the entire duration of study, which may exceed five years for doctoral degrees.

Foreign media professionals will also face stricter limits, with visa validity set at 240 days, extendable by another 240 days. 

However, the total duration will not exceed the length of their official assignment. Any request for an extension would require applications through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), triggering additional security reviews.

In the past, journalists from countries such as Germany have been issued visas valid for up to five years, but the new rule seeks to roll back that practice. 

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DHS argued that the current system allows foreign nationals to remain in the country “virtually indefinitely,” posing potential security and financial risks while being disadvantageous to U.S. citizens.

The announcement has already sparked criticism from the American higher education community. Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, described the plan as a burden on students and universities.

“The rule would force international students and scholars to regularly submit additional applications, disrupting their studies and straining university operations,” Feldblum said, warning that the uncertainty could discourage global talent from choosing the U.S. for education and research.

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