USA Limits Stay for Foreign Students and Journalists Under New Visa Rules | USA | Die Zeit (DE)

The United States is set to tighten its visa rules, imposing new duration limits for international students and journalists. Under the revised regulations, foreign students holding a student visa will be permitted to stay in the U.S. for a maximum of four years. This marks a significant change from the previous policy, which allowed students visas for the entire duration of their studies.

For foreign journalists, the new rules stipulate an initial stay of 240 days. This period can be extended for another 240 days, offering some flexibility. However, a stricter limit of 90 days will apply to journalists from China.

These new regulations are scheduled to take effect in two months. Previously, visas for foreign journalists were typically granted for five years. The U.S. government had initially announced these stricter rules in August 2025, receiving approximately 22,000 public comments. The final regulations, however, remain largely consistent with the initial proposal.