Trump administration imposes tighter visa limits for students and journalists

Washington — On Thursday the Trump administration finalized a set of regulations that tighten the permissible length of stay for foreign students and journalists in the United States, marking a further tightening of legal‑immigration rules. The measures were announced as part of the administration’s broader effort to curb non‑immigrant residency periods.

Under the new rules, student visas will be limited to a maximum of four years, regardless of program length, while non‑immigrant journalists will be allowed to remain for no more than 240 days per visit. A separate provision places an even stricter 90‑day cap on Chinese journalists. The regulations apply to all eligible foreign nationals and are intended to standardize stay durations across categories that have previously varied by individual circumstance.

The rules are slated to take effect later this year, and officials indicated that they will be enforced through existing visa‑processing and immigration‑monitoring systems. Stakeholders in higher education and media organizations have been advised to review the changes to ensure compliance with the revised limits.