The administration announced new rules to shorten visa durations for international students and foreign journalists to improve oversight and security.
The administration announced a new rule that will limit international students to a four-year stay in the United States unless they receive specific federal approval. This policy replaces the "duration of status" system, which previously allowed students to remain in the country indefinitely. The rule also introduces restrictions on how and when students may change their academic majors. Additionally, the administration announced that visas for foreign journalists will be shortened from five years to 240 days, while Chinese journalists will be limited to 90 days. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that these finite limits allow the government to better screen, vet, and monitor individuals within the borders. While higher education leaders and advocacy groups have criticized the move as an administrative burden that may reduce the U.S. appeal to global talent, the administration defended the change as a necessary crackdown on immigration fraud. The new rules aim to ensure that foreign visitors remain focused on their primary purposes before returning home.