us-moves-to-limit-duration-of-student-media-visas

The Trump administration has unveiled a proposal to curtail the duration of visas for foreign students and media personnel in the United States, citing concerns over indefinite stays and national security risks.

 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Wednesday that the rule, if finalised, would set strict limits on the length of time certain visa holders, including F and I visa holders, could remain in the country. Since 1978, F visa holders have been admitted under “duration of status,” allowing them to stay indefinitely without additional vetting.

 

“For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the US virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging US citizens,” a DHS spokesperson said. “This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the US.”

 

Under the proposal, foreign students and exchange visitors would be admitted only for the duration of their programme, with a maximum stay of four years. Media personnel holding I visas would be allowed an initial period of up to 240 days, with extensions also capped at 240 days or the duration of their assignment.

 

Also read: US Embassy warns Indian students: Skipping classes risks visa

 

Adopting fixed periods would require applicants to seek authorisation from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend their stay, ensuring regular assessments by DHS.

 

The Trump administration first proposed a similar rule in 2020, but it was withdrawn by the Biden administration in 2021.

 

Separately, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick confirmed plans to reform the H1B visa programme, a highly sought-after option among Indian IT professionals, as well as changes to the Green Card process. “I'm involved in changing the H1B programme. We're going to change that programme, because that's terrible,” Lutnick said in an interview with Fox News. He added that the administration also intends to revise the permanent residency process.

 

The announcement comes as US-India relations face strain following the imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian purchases of Russian oil, effective Wednesday.