The United States government is considering fresh restrictions that could limit how long foreign students and international journalists are allowed to remain in the country.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security said the new proposal aims to curb visa abuse and strengthen security checks on visitors.
Under the plan, student visas would be capped at four years, replacing the current open-ended “duration of status” system, which permits students to stay indefinitely as long as they remain enrolled in an institution.
The department argued that some students have exploited the existing arrangement to remain in the U.S. for years without leaving. “For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” a spokesperson said.
For foreign journalists on I-visas, the new rule proposes an initial stay of 240 days, with the possibility of a further 240-day extension depending on the length of their assignment.
Previously, such journalists were permitted to stay for as long as their employment lasted, without a fixed time limit.
The rule was first introduced during the Trump administration in 2020 but was later withdrawn by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Its reintroduction underscores Washington’s continuing push to tighten immigration controls.