US Moves to Shorten Visa Duration for Students, Journalists
The United States government has announced plans to reduce the validity period of visas for international students and foreign journalists, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Under the proposed rule, F visas—issued to foreign students—would be limited to a maximum of four years, regardless of the length of their academic programs. Currently, students are granted visas that cover the full duration of their studies, which can exceed five years for doctoral degrees. For foreign journalists, visa validity would be restricted to 240 days, with the possibility of one extension for another 240 days. However, the total period would not be allowed to exceed the duration of their professional assignments. Any request for an extension would have to go through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), subjecting applicants to additional security checks. In the past, journalists from countries […]