The United States has announced major changes to its immigration policy that will significantly affect international students, exchange visitors, and foreign journalists. Under the latest regulations introduced by the Trump administration, the student visa system will shift from the long-standing “duration of status” model to fixed periods of stay, with most international students allowed to remain in the country for a maximum of four years.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized the new rule, ending the policy that previously allowed holders of F (student), J (exchange visitor), and I (foreign media) visas to stay in the United States for the length of their approved programs or assignments. Instead, the revised student visa framework introduces set admission periods for eligible applicants.
The regulation is expected to take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, pending congressional review. Under the updated policy, most international students and exchange visitors will receive permission to stay in the United States for up to four years.
The changes also affect foreign journalists. Their visas will now generally be valid for a maximum of 240 days, while Chinese journalists will receive visas limited to 90 days, although extensions may still be requested through the appropriate procedures.
The administration has also tightened several student visa requirements. Graduate students will no longer be permitted to transfer to another institution or change their educational objectives without obtaining prior authorization. In addition, the grace period after completing a degree or training program has been reduced from 60 days to 30 days, leaving graduates with less time to secure employment or another lawful immigration status.
According to DHS, the policy is intended to strengthen oversight as temporary visa admissions continue to rise. The department reported more than 1.8 million student visa admissions in 2024, an increase of over 11 percent compared with the previous year. Officials said the growing number of temporary visa holders has made monitoring more challenging and that the new rules are designed to improve accountability within the immigration system.
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