Trump proposes tighter visa rules for students, journalists

The U.S. government has introduced a regulatory proposal aimed at tightening the conditions for foreign students, exchange program participants, and international media professionals holding specific visas. This move aligns with President Donald Trump's broader policy of enforcing stricter immigration controls.

The proposed reform, developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeks to eliminate the "duration of status" system. Currently, individuals with F (student), J (exchange visitor), and I (international media) visas can legally reside in the U.S. for extended periods as long as they maintain their academic enrollment, program participation, or media employment. The new regulation would introduce fixed expiration dates, considerably reducing the length of authorized stays.

Under the proposed rule, F and J visa holders would be limited to the exact duration of their academic or exchange program, with a maximum stay of four years. For I visa holders, the permitted stay would be capped at 240 days. Notably, journalists with Chinese nationality would face a drastically reduced stay of only 90 days.

To extend their stay beyond these new fixed limits, visa holders would be required to formally apply for an extension of status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or seek renewal at a U.S. consular office abroad before their current permit expires. The DHS argues that the current "duration of status" system is too lenient and complicates oversight by national security agencies, potentially allowing former students and exchange participants to remain in the country indefinitely and undocumented.