The US government has announced plans to reduce the validity of visas for international students and foreign journalists, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.
Under the proposed rule, F visas, which allow international students to study in the United States, would be limited to a maximum of four years.
Currently, visas can cover the full length of academic programmes, which may exceed five years for doctoral degrees.
For foreign media professionals, visa validity would be capped at 240 days, with the possibility of a one-time 240-day extension.
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However, journalists’ visas would not exceed the length of their assignments, and all extensions would require applications through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), triggering additional security checks. In the past, journalists from countries such as Germany have received visas valid for up to five years.
“For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the US virtually indefinitely,” DHS said.
The department added that the practice poses security risks, financial burdens, and may disadvantage US citizens. The changes aim to prevent visa abuse and improve oversight.