The Trump administration is moving to replace the decades-old policy allowing international students and journalists to stay in the U.S. indefinitely, replacing it with fixed terms and heightened government monitoring.
According to a new proposed rule from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), foreign students on F-visas would be limited to a maximum four-year stay, aligned directly with their academic program’s length. The current policy, in place since 1978, permits students to remain in the country as long as they are enrolled in their educational institution.
The DHS argues that the existing “duration of status” framework has created immigration loopholes and poses a disadvantage to American citizens, though specific details were not immediately provided.
Similarly, foreign journalists on I-visas would see significant changes. Instead of indefinite stays, they would be granted an initial admission period of up to 240 days, with extensions available only upon application.
Crucially, both students and media personnel would be subject to regular compliance checks and ongoing monitoring by authorities to ensure they are adhering to the terms of their visas.
Related: State Department Revokes 6000 Student Visas in Crackdown
This proposed shift marks one of the most significant structural changes to U.S. student and exchange visitor immigration policy in over 40 years, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of individuals in the United States.