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 such as Germany have received visas valid for up to five years. DHS said the changes were necessary to prevent visa abuse, enhance oversight, and strengthen security.
“For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the US virtually indefinitely. This poses security risks and creates financial burdens while disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” the department stated.
The proposal has sparked criticism from U.S. higher education stakeholders.
Miriam Feldblum, President and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, said the rule would create unnecessary challenges for students and universities.
“The rule would force international students and scholars to regularly submit additional applications, disrupting their studies and straining university operations,” Feldblum warned.
She added that the uncertainty could discourage international talent from pursuing education and research opportunities in the United States.
About the author
Rainstorm kills two, destroys over 50 houses in Kaduna LGA
A violent rainstorm has killed two people and destroyed more than 50 houses in Dokan Mai Jama’a community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The incident occurred after a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds that lasted for over an hour. Local sources said the storm ripped off roofs, pulled down walls and damaged property worth millions of naira. Several families were left homeless as their houses were either completely flattened or badly affected by the wind and rain. Community leaders have called on the Kaduna State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency and other humanitarian agencies to come to the aid of affected residents. They are appealing for relief materials such as roofing sheets, food items, bedding and other basic supplies to help victims rebuild their lives. The rainstorm is one of the first major weather related disasters […]
Akpabio says ADC is dead amid fresh National Assembly defections
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the African Democratic Congress is “dead” following a fresh wave of defections by its lawmakers in the National Assembly. He made the remark during plenary while reading letters from senators and members of the House of Representatives who announced their exit from the party. Akpabio’s comment came shortly after he read the resignation letter of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who defected from the ADC to the Labour Party. As more defection letters were tabled, the Senate President joked that lawmakers leaving the ADC should “just compile everything in one paper” because, in his view, “ADC is dead.” Abaribe, who represents Abia South, said in his letter that his decision was driven by “ongoing legal uncertainties, multiple court cases and leadership crises” within the ADC. He described remaining in the party under such conditions as […]
BREAKING: Jim Ovia retires as Zenith Bank chairman
Zenith Bank Plc has announced the retirement of its founder and Group Chairman, Jim Ovia, following the expiration of his tenure on the bank’s board. The bank said his exit is in line with corporate governance rules that limit how long non executive directors and chairmen can serve in Nigerian financial institutions. In a notice issued in Lagos and confirmed at the bank’s 35th Annual General Meeting, Zenith Bank explained that Ovia has completed the mandatory 12 year tenure allowed for non executive directors and chairmen under Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines. These rules are part of wider efforts to promote board renewal, accountability and stronger governance across the banking sector. Ovia, who founded Zenith Bank in 1990, has been central to its growth into one of Nigeria’s largest and most profitable financial institutions. Under his leadership, the bank expanded […]
BREAKING: 18 Reps dump ADC, defect to NDC and APC
Eighteen members of the House of Representatives who were elected on the platform of the African Democratic Congress have resigned from the party, with 17 of them defecting to the Nigeria Democratic Congress and one crossing over to the All Progressives Congress. The mass exit marks a fresh blow to the ADC as opposition realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to notices read on the floor of the House, the lawmakers cited internal crises, leadership tussles and alleged hijack of the party structure as reasons for leaving the ADC. Many of them had previously aligned with the Obi Kwankwaso bloc that recently dumped the ADC for the NDC. Of the 18 departing lawmakers, 17 are heading to the NDC, which is rapidly emerging as a new rallying point for opposition forces. One lawmaker has opted to join […]
France launches one euro university meals for all students
From May 4, every enrolled student, including undergraduates, postgraduates, doctoral candidates and some recognised volunteers, can access the one euro meals at university canteens run by the Crous network. The usual price of a standard meal in these canteens is 3.30 euros, meaning the state subsidises most of the cost. For one euro, students receive a three course meal, typically including a starter, main course and dessert. French authorities say the measure is designed to support students struggling with inflation, high rents and rising food prices. A student union survey cited by officials found that almost half of students had skipped meals for financial reasons, with nearly a quarter doing so several times a month. In 2024, around 667,000 students benefited from the one euro scheme when it was still restricted, with about 46.7 million meals served at both the […]
Shank sparks debate with story of mum’s reaction to tattoo
Nigerian skit maker and comedian Adesokan Emmanuel, popularly known as Shank, has stirred debate on social media after sharing how his mother reacted when she discovered he has a tattoo. In a recent video, he narrated that the revelation immediately turned into a Bible quoting session at home. According to Shank, he had kept the tattoo hidden from his mother for some time. When she finally found out, she was visibly upset and began citing Bible verses and religious teachings to express her disapproval. His story quickly went viral, with many Nigerians relating it to broader arguments in Christian circles about whether tattoos are acceptable for believers. The conversation has revived earlier debates triggered by comments from Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, who previously said during a live broadcast that there is no specific Bible verse that outright forbids tattoos for Christians. […]
Related
Rainstorm kills two, destroys over 50 houses in Kaduna LGA
A violent rainstorm has killed two people and destroyed more than 50 houses in Dokan Mai Jama’a community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The incident occurred after a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds that lasted for over an hour. Local sources said the storm ripped off roofs, pulled down walls and damaged property worth millions of naira. Several families were left homeless as their houses were either completely flattened or badly affected by the wind and rain. Community leaders have called on the Kaduna State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency and other humanitarian agencies to come to the aid of affected residents. They are appealing for relief materials such as roofing sheets, food items, bedding and other basic supplies to help victims rebuild their lives. The rainstorm is one of the first major weather related disasters […]
Akpabio says ADC is dead amid fresh National Assembly defections
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the African Democratic Congress is “dead” following a fresh wave of defections by its lawmakers in the National Assembly. He made the remark during plenary while reading letters from senators and members of the House of Representatives who announced their exit from the party. Akpabio’s comment came shortly after he read the resignation letter of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who defected from the ADC to the Labour Party. As more defection letters were tabled, the Senate President joked that lawmakers leaving the ADC should “just compile everything in one paper” because, in his view, “ADC is dead.” Abaribe, who represents Abia South, said in his letter that his decision was driven by “ongoing legal uncertainties, multiple court cases and leadership crises” within the ADC. He described remaining in the party under such conditions as […]
BREAKING: Jim Ovia retires as Zenith Bank chairman
Zenith Bank Plc has announced the retirement of its founder and Group Chairman, Jim Ovia, following the expiration of his tenure on the bank’s board. The bank said his exit is in line with corporate governance rules that limit how long non executive directors and chairmen can serve in Nigerian financial institutions. In a notice issued in Lagos and confirmed at the bank’s 35th Annual General Meeting, Zenith Bank explained that Ovia has completed the mandatory 12 year tenure allowed for non executive directors and chairmen under Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines. These rules are part of wider efforts to promote board renewal, accountability and stronger governance across the banking sector. Ovia, who founded Zenith Bank in 1990, has been central to its growth into one of Nigeria’s largest and most profitable financial institutions. Under his leadership, the bank expanded […]
BREAKING: 18 Reps dump ADC, defect to NDC and APC
Eighteen members of the House of Representatives who were elected on the platform of the African Democratic Congress have resigned from the party, with 17 of them defecting to the Nigeria Democratic Congress and one crossing over to the All Progressives Congress. The mass exit marks a fresh blow to the ADC as opposition realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to notices read on the floor of the House, the lawmakers cited internal crises, leadership tussles and alleged hijack of the party structure as reasons for leaving the ADC. Many of them had previously aligned with the Obi Kwankwaso bloc that recently dumped the ADC for the NDC. Of the 18 departing lawmakers, 17 are heading to the NDC, which is rapidly emerging as a new rallying point for opposition forces. One lawmaker has opted to join […]
Report shows Nigeria’s economy rebounding strongly
Nigeria’s economy is on a clear recovery path after years of stagnation, with a new report by Quartus Economics indicating that key indicators have recorded their strongest improvement in more than a decade. The study, obtained by The Nation, concludes that “Nigeria is rising” and that the economy is back on track, even though growth still needs to be faster and more broad based. According to the report, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product grew by a cumulative 8.34 percent between 2024 and 2025, the highest two year expansion in over ten years. This pace also outperformed population growth, which was estimated at less than 4.4 percent over the same period, reversing earlier years when the population was growing faster than the economy. Between 2020 and 2023, GDP growth averaged just 0.97 percent, while the population increased by about 8.78 percent, leading […]
Report shows Nigeria’s economy rebounding strongly
Nigeria’s economy is on a clear recovery path after years of stagnation, with a new report by Quartus Economics indicating that key indicators have recorded their strongest improvement in more than a decade. The study, obtained by The Nation, concludes that “Nigeria is rising” and that the economy is back on track, even though growth still needs to be faster and more broad based. According to the report, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product grew by a cumulative 8.34 percent between 2024 and 2025, the highest two year expansion in over ten years. This pace also outperformed population growth, which was estimated at less than 4.4 percent over the same period, reversing earlier years when the population was growing faster than the economy. Between 2020 and 2023, GDP growth averaged just 0.97 percent, while the population increased by about 8.78 percent, leading […]