Trump Administration Seeks to Tighten Student, Media Visas

The Trump administration on Wednesday unveiled a proposed rule to limit how long certain visa holders — including foreign students, professors, physicians, and media representatives — can remain in the United States without undergoing additional screening, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The DHS said the measure is aimed at addressing “longstanding abuse” of student visas and improving the government’s ability to monitor individuals in temporary programs.

“For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing taxpayers, and disadvantaging citizens,” a DHS spokesperson said. “This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all.”

Since 1978, foreign students with F visas have been admitted under a “duration of status” policy, permitting them to stay as long as they remain enrolled. Officials argue this has created “forever students” who avoid further vetting by continuously re-enrolling.

Under the new proposal:

• Students and exchange visitors would be admitted only for the length of their program, capped at four years.
• Media representatives would initially be allowed up to 240 days, with the possibility of a 240-day extension.
• Chinese journalists would face a stricter limit of 90 days.

Visa holders would need to apply for extensions through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, giving DHS opportunities for regular oversight. The agency said fixed admission periods would strengthen monitoring under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

The plan was first floated in 2020, but later withdrawn by the Biden administration in 2021.

Beijing Pushback
China swiftly criticized the move, calling it discriminatory.
“Closer people-to-people exchange serves the common interests of both countries. We oppose the U.S.’ discriminatory move targeting a specific country,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Thursday in Beijing.