Trump plans to shorten visa periods for international journalists and students

The new year brought about changes as the 2024 fiscal year commenced on October 1, 2023. One of the significant changes proposed by the US government under President Donald Trump is the tightening of legal immigration restrictions.

The proposed modifications aim to "better monitor and supervise" visa holders during their stay in the United States. This includes changes to student (F visas) and journalist visas.

For foreign students, the proposed changes limit their stay to a maximum of 4 years. Previously, visas were granted for the duration of a student's study program. However, under the new proposals, this could change.

In 2024, there were approximately 1.6 million international students with F visas in the United States. The US granted visas to approximately 355,000 exchange visitors in the same year.

The proposed changes also affect journalists. Currently, the United States grants visas up to 5 years for a journalist, but this could change to 240 days or 90 days for foreign journalists, depending on their nationality. Chinese journalists, in particular, would be limited to 90 days under the proposed changes.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposes the new rule, stating it as a "discriminatory practice" by the United States. This proposed change could affect journalists accredited to hundreds of foreign media outlets in the United States.

Foreign journalists would be limited to stays of 240 days, but could apply for renewals for identical periods, under the proposed changes. However, the renewal requirements would be tighter, with more scrutiny by immigration authorities.

The Trump administration's proposed regulation states that the modification is necessary to ensure better monitoring and supervision of visa holders during their stay in the United States. If implemented, this measure would significantly impact legal immigration in the United States.