नवीनतम
US visa proposal: 4-year for students, 240 days for media
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Trump administration has announced a proposal that would change how long international students, exchange visitors, and foreign journalists can stay in the United States. The government says the new rules will strengthen oversight and prevent misuse of visas, but critics warn it could discourage students and affect higher education.
Since 1978, student (F visa) and exchange (J visa) holders have been admitted for what is called “duration of status.” This system allows them to stay in the US for as long as they remain enrolled in a program or on an exchange, without having to reapply for new approvals.
The new proposal would replace that with fixed visa terms. Students and exchange visitors would be given visas lasting up to four years, while foreign journalists (I visas) would be capped at 240 days. Chinese nationals on journalist visas would face an even stricter cap of 90 days.
If anyone needs to stay longer, they would have to apply for an extension through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This would give the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) more chances to review applications and monitor visa holders.
Why is Trump administration making this change?
Officials argue that the current system makes it too easy for people to stay in the country indefinitely. They claim some have become “forever students” by enrolling in one program after another without new vetting.
“For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the US virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging US citizens,” a DHS spokesperson said.
“This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the US, easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history.”
According to DHS, the fixed-term system would also improve monitoring through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
How many people will be affected?
Government data shows that in 2024 there were about 1.6 million F visa students in the US. In addition, there were 355,000 exchange visitors and 13,000 foreign journalists.
Any change in visa rules would directly affect these groups, many of whom contribute to US universities, research, and cultural exchange programs.
Why are critics concerned?
Opponents of the plan say it could hurt the US education system and damage the country’s reputation as a destination for international students. They argue that extra paperwork and uncertainty about extensions may push students to choose universities in other countries.
A similar proposal was made in 2020 during Trump’s first term, but it was withdrawn in 2021 under the Biden administration after strong opposition from universities, business leaders, and international education groups.
Part of a larger immigration push
The visa proposal is one of several recent moves by the Trump administration to tighten legal immigration. Other steps have included stricter reviews of student visas, revoking green cards for ideological reasons, ending protections for some migrants, and resuming neighbourhood checks on naturalisation applicants to verify residency and “commitment to American ideals.”
What happens next?
The new proposal has entered a 30-day public comment period. If finalised, it would be one of the most significant immigration policy changes of Trump’s second term, reshaping the rules for students, scholars, and journalists around the world.
