The US plans to limit the duration of visas for journalists and foreign students

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to limit the duration of visas for journalists and foreign students, so that they adjust to the duration of both study programs and journalistic activities and do not extend beyond four years. Current guidelines allow you to continue living temporarily in the country beyond your studies.

The modification that will come into force 60 days after its publication, scheduled for tomorrow, changes the admission period in the F, J and I visa categories, that is, students, cultural exchanges and journalists, establishing an admission for a certain period of time, while setting additional conditions for the admission and extension of visas.

“This final rule will provide additional protections and oversight of these categories of nonimmigrants and will allow DHS to better evaluate whether these nonimmigrants maintain their status while temporarily in the United States,” the imminent release note states.

For students and members of cultural exchanges, the permit will be established to fit the duration of the program, without exceeding a period of four years. Regarding journalists, the entry permit will be adjusted to a specific period of time, until they complete the activities or tasks of the visa “without said period exceeding 240 days.”

In the case of students who change programs or educational centers, the student will be required to complete their first academic year of the study program at the center that initially issued the entry form to the United States. Likewise, foreign students with graduate visas are prohibited from changing programs.

At the same time, the notice period for a foreign student to prepare to leave the country when their studies are finished is reduced from 60 to 30 days, while if they finish early they have the same period to leave the country and put their situation in order with the US authorities.