Under the proposed rule, student visas would be capped at four years, while foreign journalists would be limited to stays of 240 days…reports Asian Lite News
President Donald Trump’s administration moved Thursday to impose stricter limits on how long foreign students and journalists can remain in the United States, the latest effort to curb legal immigration.
Under the proposed rule, student visas would be capped at four years, while foreign journalists would be limited to stays of 240 days, with the option to apply for extensions in similar increments.
According to Arab News, the US has until now issued visas for the full duration of a student’s academic programme or a journalist’s assignment, though no non-immigrant visa has ever been valid for more than 10 years. The new rule, published in the Federal Register, has opened a short period for public comment before taking effect.
The Department of Homeland Security alleged that some foreigners were indefinitely prolonging their studies to remain in the country as “forever students.” It argued that past administrations had allowed visa holders to stay “virtually indefinitely,” creating safety risks and imposing costs on taxpayers.
Critics, however, note that international students contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023, according to Commerce Department figures. The United States hosted over 1.1 million international students in the 2023–24 academic year, more than any other country, providing a vital source of tuition revenue.
University leaders condemned the proposed restrictions as needless bureaucracy that could undermine research, innovation, and job creation. “This sends a message to talented individuals worldwide that their contributions are not valued in the United States,” said Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.
The announcement came as many universities reported declining international student enrolments, a trend already accelerated by earlier Trump administration policies.
