Summary
The Trump administration plans to reduce the time foreign students, cultural exchange participants, and journalists can stay in the U.S. under certain visas. The Department of Homeland Security announced these changes to prevent "visa abuse" and improve monitoring of visa holders. Student visas would be limited to four years, cultural exchange to four years, and reporters to 240 days, with specific restrictions for Chinese journalists.
Key Facts
- The Trump administration aims to shorten stay durations for student, journalist, and cultural exchange visas.
- The planned changes are intended to address "visa abuse" and enhance U.S. government oversight.
- F visas for students and J visas for cultural exchanges would be limited to four years.
- I visas for journalists would be capped at 240 days, with an extension possible.
- Chinese journalists would face a 90-day stay limit.
- Previously, student visas lasted for the duration of academic programs.
- The new rules could affect international students' ability to complete longer programs and participate in research.
- Around 1.6 million international students were studying in the U.S. as of 2024.
