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United States caps stays for foreign students and journalists
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule ending the long‑standing “duration of status” system for non‑immigrant visas. Under the rule, F‑student and J‑exchange visitor visas will be limited to a maximum of four years, and I‑visas for foreign journalists to 240 days. Holders of Chinese passports on I visas face a stricter limit of 90 days. The regulation will be published in the Federal Register and will take effect 60 days afterward, with the first enforcement date slated for September 2026.
The change affects more than 1.8 million student admissions recorded in 2024 and hundreds of thousands of foreign media representatives. U.S. officials cite national‑security and fraud‑prevention concerns. Press‑freedom groups, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the measures as harmful to international newsgathering and a violation of free‑press rights.