The administration announced new rules to limit the duration of visas for international students and foreign journalists in the United States.
The administration announced a new rule that will limit international students to a four-year stay in the U.S. unless they receive federal approval. This shift moves away from the "duration of status" system, which previously allowed students to remain in the country for as long as needed to complete their degrees. The rule, effective this September, also restricts how students may change academic majors and reduces the post-graduation grace period from 60 days to 30 days. Additionally, the administration announced that foreign journalists will now have fixed visa terms, with most staying for 240 days and Chinese journalists limited to 90 days. While the Department of Homeland Security stated these changes allow for better vetting and monitoring of nonimmigrants, many education leaders and press advocates have criticized the move. Critics argue the new limits create unnecessary bureaucracy and may reduce the U.S. appeal to the world's brightest scholars and reporters.