The Trump administration plans to shorten the validity period of visas for students and media workers

A proposed regulation released by the Trump administration of the United States on Wednesday (August 27) shows that the authorities plan to shorten the validity period of visas for students, cultural exchange visitors and media personnel, which is part of a broader crackdown on legal immigration by the US authorities.

According to the proposed regulations, the maximum duration of student and exchange visas shall not exceed four years. The visa for journalists will be limited to a maximum of 240 days, while for Chinese citizens it will be 90 days. Visa holders can apply for an extension.

The Trump administration stated in the proposed rule that it was to better supervise and manage visa holders during their stay in the United States. The public can comment on this measure in the next 30 days.

According to data from the US government, there will be approximately 1.6 million international students holding F visas in the United States in 2024. In fiscal year 2024, the United States issued approximately 355,000 exchange visit visas and 13,000 media visas.

The Higher Education and Immigration Presidents' Alliance pointed out that international students and scholars will repeatedly submit additional applications to stay in the United States or complete the requirements of academic programs. The new regulations will impose a heavy burden on students, colleges and universities, and federal agencies.