US to toughen visa rules for students, foreign journalists

The new final regulation of the National Security Department (DHS) stipulates a fixed period of attitude for F (for international students), J visas (which allow participants in cultural exchange programmes to work in the US) and visas I (for media representatives).

Currently, these visas are valid for the entire length of the US study or employment programme.

Under the new rules, the period of validity for student and exchange visas will not be longer than four years.

The visa for journalists - which can currently last for years - will be limited to 240 days, or 90 days, in the case of Chinese citizens.

The regulation will take effect 60 days after the publication of the Federal Register, unless it is hampered by the process of review in Congress.

President Donald Trump launched a broad campaign against immigration soon after taking office in January 2025.

His administration has increased control over legal migration by revoteing student visas and green cards of university students because of their ideological views and removing legal status from hundreds of thousands of immigrants.

The latest action will create new obstacles for international students, exchange programmes employees and foreign journalists.

According to the DHS, holders of these visas will have the opportunity to apply for extension of the stay deadline.

New Limitations for Students

Adjustion prevents postgraduate students from changing their educational goals at any time or from moving to another university without authorization.

It also bisects the term students have to leave the United States after completing their studies or training from 60 days to 30 days.

The majority of Americans understand the value of welcoming international students and eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy", said Doug Rand, former DHS official. This regulation will do exactly the opposite".

David J. Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, said there is no legal basis for new restrictions related to students' studies and transfer.

International students, many of whom will have spent years in the United States, will now have only 30 days to find an employer to sponsor their visa or, otherwise, will be immediately considered illegal immigrants. Don't these people understand how life works?

In his announcement, the Department cited the significant increase in the number of these visas.

According to the DHS, more than 1.8 million student visa entry was registered in 2024, an increase of over 11% compared to a year ago.

This change in student visas is expected to affect even Kosovars going to study in the United States.

Each year, up to 200 students from Kosovo to universities in the US are enrolled, according to reports by the Open Doors, published by the International Education Institute (IIE).

Last year they were registered 190 students from KosovoAccording to the latest report.

The US also issued visas for more than 500,000 participants in exchange programmes and for 37,300 media representatives during the 2024 fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2023.

The DHS said that the significant increase in the number of these visitors"poses a challenge to the department's ability to monitor and monitor these immigrants during their stay in the United States".

The department added that there are many cases of students and participants in exchange programmes that have been staying in the US for decades with these types of visas.

Under the new rules, visa holders who want to stay in the US even after the end of the allowed period of residence will have to apply to the DHS for extensions or leave the country and return to get a new entry permit.