The United States has introduced new visa rules that will place stricter limits on how long international students and foreign journalists can remain in the country, as President Donald Trump’s administration moves forward with tighter immigration policies.
Under the new regulations, expected to take effect as early as September 2026, international students will be granted visas for the duration of their academic programme, subject to a maximum stay of four years. Students who require additional time to complete their studies will need to apply for an extension.
The updated policy also affects foreign journalists. Most journalists will be permitted to stay in the US for 240 days (around eight months) at a time, with the option to apply for extensions of the same duration. Chinese journalists will face stricter limits, with an initial stay of 90 days and possible 90-day extensions.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the changes are intended to strengthen oversight of visa holders, arguing that the previous open-ended system allowed some international students to remain in the country indefinitely by continuously extending their studies.
The final rule was approved after DHS reviewed nearly 22,000 public comments submitted following its proposal in August 2025, although the policy remains largely unchanged from the original draft.
The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration agenda, which includes tighter enforcement measures and additional restrictions on legal immigration pathways.
The new rules have drawn criticism from universities, media organisations and press freedom groups. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the restrictions would make it significantly harder for international journalists to report from the United States, while the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described the decision as a serious setback for press freedom.
Higher education organisations also warned that the policy could discourage talented international students from choosing US universities. The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration said the changes could weaken the global competitiveness of American higher education institutions.
According to official data, the United States hosted more than 1.1 million international students during the 2023–24 academic year, contributing over $50 billion to the US economy in 2023.
The new regulation remains subject to review by the Republican-controlled US Congress before full implementation.
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