US Limits Foreign Student and Journalist Stays to Four Years and 240 Days

The United States has announced new restrictions on the length of stay for foreign students and journalists, limiting student visas to a maximum of four years and journalist visas to 240 days, with possible extensions. Chinese journalists face even stricter limits of 90 days. The measures, set to take effect in September unless blocked by Congress, mark a significant tightening of immigration policy under President Donald Trump Source: diariolibree.

Key Restrictions

• Students: Foreign students can stay for up to four years, a reduction from the previous policy of visa validity for the duration of their program Source: hoydo.
• Journalists: Foreign journalists are limited to 240 days (about eight months), with the option to apply for equal extensions. Previously, journalist visas could last up to five years Source: diariolibree.
• Chinese Journalists: Subject to a particularly restrictive framework, with initial visas capped at 90 days and stricter conditions for extensions Source: hoydo.

Reactions and Impact

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received nearly 22,000 public comments when the rules were proposed in August 2025 but made few changes. DHS argued that the previous open-ended stay for students led to "eternal students" extending their time indefinitely Source: diariolibree. More than 100 media organizations, including AFP, signed an open letter warning the rules would "reduce the quantity and quality of coverage" of US affairs Source: diariolibree. Higher education associations opposed the limit, citing a potential deterrent for talented students; the US hosted over 1.1 million international students in the 2023–24 academic year, contributing more than $50 billion to the economy Source: diariolibree. Universities have already noted a drop in international enrollments following earlier Trump administration actions. Similar restrictions were proposed by Trump at the end of his first term but were discarded by President Joe Biden Source: hoydo.