Overview
- Student F visas would be capped at a maximum of four years, replacing the current practice that ties stays to a program’s length.
- Journalist visas would be limited to 240 days with possible extensions of up to 240 days, with 90‑day terms proposed for Chinese reporters.
- Renewals would shift to USCIS, a change expected to bring more extensive checks and added administrative burden.
- DHS frames the move as curbing abuse by so‑called “eternal students” and addressing security and cost concerns.
- Universities and media groups warn of setbacks for research pipelines and sustained foreign correspondence, noting recent revocations of roughly 6,000 student visas and broader federal screening efforts.