The United States will eliminate the decades-old system that allowed foreign students, exchange visitors, and journalists to remain in the country for the duration of their academic programmes or assignments, replacing it with fixed maximum stays. Under a final rule published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on 16 July, F-1 and J-1 visa holders will be admitted for up to four years, while I visas for foreign media representatives will be capped at 240 days, with Chinese nationals limited to 90 days. The regulation is scheduled to take effect 60 days after its appearance in the Federal Register, subject to a review by Congress, where the Republican Party holds majorities in both chambers.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the previous “duration of status” framework, in place for students since the late 1970s, had compromised national security and enabled visa abuse by “forever students” who perpetually enrolled in courses to avoid departure. The department cited a sharp increase in visa admissions—more than 1.8 million student entries in fiscal year 2024, an 11 percent rise from the previous year—as straining its oversight capacity. The rule also reduces the post-completion grace period for F-1 students from 60 to 30 days, restricts programme transfers, and prohibits graduate-level students from changing their educational objectives without authorisation.

Higher education associations in the United States, including NAFSA: Association of International Educators and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, argued that the change injects unnecessary bureaucracy and uncertainty, warning it would weaken the ability of American universities to attract top international talent. Media freedom organisations, among them Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, described the shortened journalist visa as a direct constraint on press freedom that could make it extremely difficult for international outlets to operate in the country. The Embassy of Japan in Washington had urged DHS to allow admission periods of two to five years for correspondents, a request the department rejected. The Chinese foreign ministry, when the proposal was first advanced in 2025, called the 90-day limit for its nationals discriminatory.

The move forms part of a broader immigration enforcement push by the administration of President Donald Trump, which has also revoked thousands of student visas, suspended federal research funding, and sought to restrict access to permanent residency. International students contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023, according to official data, and universities have already reported declining foreign enrolments following earlier measures. The rule’s fixed expiration dates mean that students in longer programmes—such as doctoral degrees, medical residencies, or those transitioning to Optional Practical Training—will need to file formal extension requests with US Citizenship and Immigration Services, a process that includes biometric collection and background checks.

The regulation is subject to a congressional review period and could be blocked by lawmakers, though such intervention is rare. If it proceeds, the new admission limits will apply to all affected visa holders entering after the effective date, while those already in the United States will be transitioned to a fixed end date based on their current programme, up to a maximum of four additional years. The DHS has indicated that extensions will be available, but the requirement for periodic reauthorisation marks a structural shift in how the United States manages temporary non-immigrant stays.