By Yusuf Mohammed
The United States government plans to reduce the validity period of visas for foreign students and journalists, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced.
Under the proposed rule, student visas (F visas) would be limited to a maximum of four years. At present, students are granted visas for the full duration of their studies, which can exceed five years in the case of doctoral programmes.
For foreign journalists, visa validity would be capped at 240 days, with a possible extension of another 240 days. Extensions would require filing fresh applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and undergoing additional security checks.
Previously, journalists from countries like Germany have received visas valid for up to five years.
DHS said the new restrictions were necessary to curb visa abuse, reduce security risks, and ensure better oversight. “For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely,” the agency stated.
But higher education leaders have criticised the plan. Miriam Feldblum, president of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, said the rules would place extra burdens on students and universities, disrupt research, and potentially discourage international talent from coming to the U.S.
