The United States is set to restrict the stay of foreign students, exchange visitors, and international journalists under new visa regulations proposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
As per the draft rule, foreign students can remain in the US only for the duration of their academic program, capped at a maximum of four years, with mandatory visa renewals at specified intervals. Holders of F and J visas will fall under the new timeline, while F-1 undergraduate students will face tighter restrictions on changing programs. The post-study grace period for F-1 students will also be cut from 60 days to 30 days.
International journalists on I visas will see their stay limited to 240 days for reporting assignments in the US.
The move comes on the heels of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s announcement about planned changes to the H-1B visa program and the green card system, marking a wider restructuring of America’s immigration and visa framework.
