Trump Administration Limits the Duration of Student and Journalist Visas

Seniors walk out during the final commencement ceremony at Sweet Briar College, a women's liberal arts college in Sweet Briar, Virginia, on May 16, 2015. —Jabin Botsford—The Washington Post/Getty Images The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday finalized a rule that will limit the durations of visas for students , exchange visitors, and journalists. The new rule imposes new caps on the lengths of F visas, for international college and university students; J visas, for those in the country through educational and cultural exchange programs, which can include students, but also researchers, teachers, or interns, among other designations; and I visas, for journalists. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement on Thursday that thousands of foreign students have allowed to remain in the U.S. “indefinitely” under their visas by “perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the U.S.,” and that setting limits on the duration of visas will allow the U.S. to reclaim “its ability to properly screen, vet, and monitor individuals within our borders.” “This final rule ensures that foreign students remain focused on their primary purpose: completing their studies and returning home,” Mullin said. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register in the “next few days,” according to DHS and will then go into effect 60 days after publication. The move is the latest in the Trump Administration’s efforts to limit the number of foreign nationals in the country, which have also previously seen the Administration take steps to restrict refugee admissions, pause visas from specific countries, charge companies for H-1B visas, and end temporary protected status for hundreds of thousands of migrants, among a slew of other actions. Under the new rule, F and J visa holders will be permitted to remain in the U.S. for the length of their program, but not longer than four years. If a student needs additional time to complete an academic program, they must