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The Trump administration has introduced a new plan to limit the length of US visas in several categories due to visa misuse and national security.
According to international media reports, the proposal mainly affects foreign students and international journalists, groups that used to have more flexible visa options.
Since 1978, foreign students with F visas could stay in the United States as long as they were enrolled in their academic programs, with no strict upper limit.
Under the new plan, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to restrict student visas to the official length of their study programs, with a maximum of four years. .
This change would greatly reduce the previous option for indefinite stays.
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Foreign journalists working in the U.S. on assignment would be allowed to stay for an initial period of 240 days. They could extend their stay for another 240 days based on the length of their professional assignment, but they would need regular screenings for more extensions.
The DHS argues that indefinite stays pose risks to American citizens, permitting foreign nationals to remain in the country longer than necessary.
The administration claims that stricter limits would allow for better monitoring and adherence to visa rules. It’s important to note that President Trump first proposed this visa restriction in 2020.
However, when former President Biden took office, his administration rejected the proposal and kept the existing system, which allowed students and journalists more flexibility.
If put into effect, this latest move would represent a major change in U.S. immigration policy, directly affecting thousands of students and media professionals who depend on longer visa periods to finish their studies or assignments.
