The United States has introduced new restrictions that will reduce the length of stay for foreign students and journalists, as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies efforts to tighten immigration controls.
Under the new policy, international students entering the U.S. would only be granted visas covering the duration of their academic programmes, with a maximum limit of four years.
The rule is expected to take effect as early as September.
Foreign journalists would also face shorter stays, with admission periods limited to 240 days, or about eight months.
They may apply for extensions in additional 240-day periods, while Chinese journalists would face a stricter limit of only 90 days.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the changes were designed to improve monitoring of foreign nationals and prevent abuse of the student visa system.
The department argued that some individuals had used the previous system to remain in the country indefinitely as “forever students.”
The revised rules followed a proposal released in 2025 that attracted nearly 22,000 public comments.
Despite objections from education groups, media organisations and international stakeholders, the DHS moved forward with the restrictions largely unchanged.
The administration said the previous system, which allowed students to remain in the U.S. without fixed admission periods since the late 1970s, made it difficult for authorities to track visa holders effectively.
The decision has sparked criticism from universities and higher education advocates, who warned that the restrictions could make American institutions less attractive to international talent.
The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration said the policy could weaken the ability of U.S. universities to compete globally by discouraging skilled students from choosing America for their studies.
International students remained a major contributor to the U.S. economy.
More than 1.1 million foreign students studied in the country during the 2023–2024 academic year, generating billions of dollars in economic activity.
Media organisations and some foreign governments, including Japan, had appealed for longer visa periods for journalists assigned to U.S. bureaus, but the DHS rejected the requests.
The new restrictions revived a proposal first introduced during Trump’s earlier presidency, which was later abandoned under former President Joe Biden.
The policy would now face review by the Republican-controlled Congress.
