Trump administration proposes new rules to limit duration of visas for students, journalists

The Donald Trump administration on Wednesday proposed to limit the length of stay for visa holders such as students, cultural exchange visitors and journalists in the United States.

“New rule will limit the amount of time that foreign students, professors, physicians and other visa holders are allowed to remain in the United States without additional screening and vetting,” a proposed government regulation issued on Wednesday said.

The changes would curb “visa abuse” and increase the “Department of Homeland Security’s ability to properly vet and oversee these individuals”, it added.

This comes amid a growing crackdown on immigration launched by Trump in his second term.

The proposed regulations announced on Wednesday would require visa holders to apply for extensions periodically, instead of enjoying a more flexible legal status.

Since 1978, foreign students, or F visa holders, could stay in the US for their “duration of status” or as long as they were enrolled as a full-time student.

However, this system has allowed foreign students to take “advantage of US generosity” by becoming “forever students”, the Department of Homeland Security stated.

The draft rules propose capping visas for students and exchange visitors at a maximum of four years.

Following this period, the students would have to either shift to a work-based visa or apply for an extension, Newsweek reported.

For foreign journalists, or I visa...

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