Trump Administration Unveils Proposal to Tighten Student and Journalist Visa Rules

Trump administration proposes stricter visa rules for students and journalists.

Unlimited duration of stay would be eliminated.

Maximum admission periods of up to four years would be established.

The U.S. government on Thursday unveiled a student visa proposal pushed by Trump, introducing stricter rules for visas issued to international students, exchange program participants, and foreign journalists. The proposal aligns with the immigration enforcement policies promoted by President Donald Trump since returning to the White House.

The proposed rule from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would replace the current «duration of status» system—under which many visa holders may remain in the United States as long as they maintain their qualifying activities—with fixed periods of authorized stay. Those wishing to remain in the country beyond those limits would be required to apply for extensions more frequently.

The regulation is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Friday, July 17, and would take effect 60 days after publication, although its implementation remains subject to congressional review.

Currently, most holders of F, J, and I visas are admitted under the «duration of status» system, allowing them to stay in the United States for as long as they remain enrolled in qualifying academic programs, exchange programs, or journalistic assignments, which can span several years.

Extensions Would Be Required for Longer Stays Under the Trump Student Visa Proposal

«International | The United States is preparing changes for foreign students and journalists. Their visas would no longer have an open-ended duration and would instead be issued with fixed time limits.» https://t.co/pEiiLLbtfm

— El Economista (@eleconomista) July 16, 2026

Under the visa rules proposed by Trump, new applicants for F, J, and I visas who are approved by the Department of Homeland Security would receive an I-94 arrival/departure record showing a specific expiration date rather than an open-ended period of authorized stay.

For F (student) and J (exchange visitor) visas, the authorized stay would generally match the duration of the academic or exchange program, with a maximum limit of four years.

For I visas, issued to members of the foreign media, the proposal would establish a maximum stay of 240 days.

For journalists who are Chinese nationals, the maximum authorized stay would be limited to 90 days.

Anyone seeking to remain beyond the expiration date listed on the I-94 would need to file an extension request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) while in the United States or apply through a U.S. consular office abroad before the authorized stay expires.

The Trump administration, which has made combating illegal immigration a central policy priority, argues in the proposal that the new framework would improve oversight of temporary visa holders.

According to the administration, the current «duration of status» system has allowed some former students and exchange visitors to remain in the United States unlawfully after their visas expired because of what it describes as weaknesses in the existing process.