The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced sweeping changes to the country’s visa system by introducing fixed time limits for foreign students, exchange visitors, and journalists, ending a decades-old policy that allowed many to remain in the United States for as long as they maintained their academic or professional status.
Under a new rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), most international students and exchange visitors will now be granted visas valid for up to four years. Foreign journalists will be limited to stays of 240 days, while Chinese journalists will only receive visas valid for 90 days.
Once these periods expire, visa holders must either apply for an extension or leave the United States and submit a fresh visa application before returning.
The regulation is expected to take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, subject to congressional review. The changes could affect thousands of students preparing to begin college and university programmes in August and September.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the policy forms part of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to tighten immigration controls since returning to office in January 2025.
The department argued that previous administrations allowed some foreign students and exchange visitors to remain in the United States indefinitely, creating security concerns and increasing administrative challenges.
“For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amount of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” the DHS stated.
Officials also revealed that more than 2,100 individuals who first entered the United States as students between 2000 and 2010 were still maintaining student status as of April 2026 by enrolling in new academic programmes, transferring schools, or extending their studies.
The new regulation also introduces tighter restrictions for students seeking to transfer between educational institutions or change academic programmes, particularly at the graduate level.
According to DHS data, the United States recorded more than 1.8 million student visa admissions in 2024, representing an increase of over 11 percent compared to the previous year. During the same fiscal year, the country also admitted more than 500,000 exchange visitors and approximately 37,300 foreign journalists.
Officials say the sharp increase in visa admissions has made it more difficult for authorities to effectively monitor non-immigrant visa holders throughout their stay in the country.
The visa reforms follow a series of immigration measures introduced by the Trump administration. In June, the US Department of State disclosed that it had revoked more than 100,000 visas since President Trump returned to office, including about 8,000 student visas, with many linked to political activism.
However, universities, immigration experts and advocacy groups have expressed concerns that the stricter rules could discourage talented international students and researchers from choosing the United States for long-term study and academic work, potentially affecting the country’s global competitiveness in higher education.
Source: AlJazeera
