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US to tighten visa rules for foreign students and journalists

2026-07-17 14:43:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Trump administration decided on Thursday to shorten the duration of visas for foreign students, participants in educational exchange programs and journalists.

The new final rule from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) establishes a fixed period of stay for F visas (for international students), J visas (which allow participants in cultural exchange programs to work in the U.S.), and I visas (for media representatives).

Currently, these visas are valid for the entire duration of the study or employment program in the US.

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

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

The rule will take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, unless it is blocked by the congressional review process. President Donald Trump launched a broad anti-immigration campaign shortly after taking office in January 2025.

His administration has increased control over legal immigration, revoking the student visas and green cards of university students because of their ideological views and removing the legal status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants.

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

According to DHS, holders of these visas will be able to apply for an extension of their stay.

New restrictions for students

The regulation prohibits postgraduate students from changing their educational goals at any time, or transferring to another university without authorization.

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

"Most Americans understand the value of welcoming international students and eliminating unnecessary red tape ," said Doug Rand, a former DHS official. "This rule will do exactly the opposite."

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

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

In its announcement, the Department mentioned the significant increase in the number of these visas.

According to DHS, more than 1.8 million student visa entries were recorded in 2024, an increase of over 11% compared to the previous year.

This change in student visas is also expected to affect Kosovars who go to study in the US.

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

Last year, 190 students from Kosovo were registered, according to the latest report.

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

DHS said the significant increase in the number of these visitors "presents a challenge to the Department's ability to monitor and supervise these nonimmigrants during their stay in the United States."

The department added that there are many cases of students and exchange program participants who have stayed in the US for decades on these types of visas.

Under the new rules, visa holders who wish to remain in the US beyond their permitted period of stay will have to apply to DHS for an extension or leave the country and re-enter to obtain a new entry permit. /REL