The US government has tightened visa rules for foreign students, cultural exchange visitors, and foreign journalists. The new rules, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will limit the duration of stay for these visa holders.
Under the new rules, F-1 (student) and J-1 (exchange visitor) visas will be issued for a maximum of four years, while I-visas (for foreign journalists) will be issued for up to 240 days, with the option to extend. Chinese nationals will be issued I-visas for a maximum of 90 days.
Additionally, graduate students will not be allowed to change their course of study or transfer to another educational institution without prior approval from the relevant authorities. The time allowed for foreign students to leave the US after completing their studies has also been reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
The DHS has stated that the new rules are necessary to address the growing number of foreign students and exchange visitors, which has increased by 11% in the past year. The department has also expressed concerns about the challenges of monitoring and managing these visa holders, citing instances of individuals staying in the US for decades.
However, the new rules have been criticized by some, including a former DHS official, who has described them as unnecessary and likely to discourage international students from studying in the US.
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