U.S. threatens to close doors on foreign students and journalists
WASHINGTON – The administration of President Donald Trump is preparing a new, drastic change in its immigration policy aimed at restricting access for foreign students, cultural exchange program participants, and media representatives. According to a new government proposal published today, the United States will introduce fixed visa terms for these categories of citizens, as part of a broader course of action against legal immigration, Reuters news agency reported, citing BTA.
New obstacles for foreign nationals
After taking office in January, President Trump launched a large-scale campaign against immigration. The current move, reported today, appears to be the next step in that direction. If the proposal is adopted, it will create serious new obstacles for thousands of foreign students, cultural exchange professionals, and journalists, who currently enjoy a more flexible legal status. Instead of having the opportunity for long-term residency, they will be forced to apply for visa extensions, which will significantly complicate the process of living and working in the country.
Limited terms and stricter rules
The proposed regulation provides for the introduction of fixed periods for three main types of visas.
Visas for foreign students and cultural exchange visitors will not exceed four years. The change is particularly drastic for journalists" visas, which can currently be valid for years. Under the new proposal, they will be limited to 240 days, and for Chinese citizens " only 90 days. All visa holders will be entitled to apply for an extension of their stay, but this measure is explicitly stated as necessary for "better monitoring and control" of foreign nationals while they are on U.S. territory.
Immigration policy under scrutiny
These changes are a continuation of policies presented as early as 2020, towards the end of Donald Trump_q_s first term. The proposed regulation is open for public comments for 30 days before a final decision is made. According to official U.S. government data, approximately 1.6 million foreign students resided in the U.S. in 2024. In the 2024 fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2023, visas were issued to about 355,000 cultural exchange visitors and 13,000 media representatives. The introduction of shorter visa terms will directly affect all these people, questioning not only their stay but also their future professional and educational plans in the United States.