Support independent journalism. Subscribe for $50 for your first year. Limited time.

Immigration

Trump Administration Places Limits on Visas for Foreign Students, Journalists

DHS says the new rule is meant to prevent “forever students.”

Immigration Visa Overstays

FILE - In this June 5, 2015, file photo, the Homeland Security Department headquarters in northwest Washington. The U.S. Homeland Security Department says nearly 740,000 foreigners who were supposed to leave the country during a recent 12 month period overstayed their visas and count released Monday, May 22, 2017, includes people who arrived in the U.S. by plane or boat but does not include ground border crossings. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

By Jackie Llanos

July 16, 2026 05:24 p.m.

The Trump administration announced Thursday it would limit how long students, exchange visitors and journalists can stay in the United States on a visa.

The Department of Homeland Security’s new final rule would cap visas for students at four years and at less than a year for journalists and exchange visitors.

While the government issues those visas for the duration of programs or employment, the new rule would require people on those visas to obtain governmental approval if they want to stay longer.