The Trump administration is proposing significant changes to visa policies, specifically targeting the duration of stay for certain visa holders. The proposed changes will impact those holding F visas (students), J visas (exchange visitors), and I visas (foreign media). The core of the proposal involves setting fixed time limits on the validity of these visas.
Traditionally, the validity of these visas has correlated with the length of a study program, exchange program, or employment. F visas are valid for the duration of a student’s studies, J visas for the duration of the exchange program, and I visas for the duration of the employment within US media. This system will be revised to incorporate fixed-term limits.
The key aspects of the proposed rule include a maximum four-year duration for student and exchange visitor visas. The visas for media personnel, which currently have no specific expiration date, will be capped at 240 days, with a reduced 90-day limit for those from China and Hong Kong. The new regulations provide a mechanism for visa holders to apply for extensions.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests that these changes will improve the government’s ability to monitor visa holders effectively. In 2024, the US hosted approximately 1.6 million international students on F visas, 355,000 exchange visitors, and 13,000 media personnel. The administration argues that limiting the duration of these visas will mitigate potential risks and perceived abuses of the existing system.