US caps student, exchange & journalist visas

In mid‑July 2026 the Department of Homeland Security finalized a rule ending the long‑standing “duration of status” framework for F (student), J (exchange visitor) and I (journalist) visas. Stays are now capped at four years for students and exchange visitors, with the post‑graduation grace period for F‑1 holders reduced from 60 to 30 days. Foreign journalists may stay up to 240 days, with a separate 90‑day limit for Chinese nationals. The rule also bars most program‑change transfers and second‑degree pursuits without prior DHS authorization. Extensions require a new USCIS application, biometric data and background checks, and become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, pending possible congressional review.

The regulation affects roughly 1.8 million student‑visa admissions in FY 2024, more than 500 000 exchange visitors and about 37 000 foreign journalists. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin framed the change as necessary to “restore integrity” and curb “perpetual enrollment.” University groups (e.g., NAFSA), Korean student organizations, and press‑freedom advocates such as Reporters Without Borders warn that the caps, tighter transfer rules, and shortened journalist stays will harm U.S. university attractiveness, jeopardize degree completion, and limit on‑the‑ground reporting.

The administration situates the rule within President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown that began after his 2025 inauguration.