The United States government is proposing new rules to shorten visa validity periods for Nigerians and other international students and foreign journalists, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced.
Under the announced plan, F visas for foreign students would reportedly be capped at four years, not withstanding the length of their academic programs.
Currently, students receive visas for the full duration of their studies, which can exceed five years for doctoral degrees.
For foreign media professionals, visa validity would be limited to 240 days, with the option of a single 240-day extension, according to the new plan.
However, the total stay would not exceed the length of their assignments. According to the new arrangement, any extension would require an application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
DHS argued that the changes are necessary to prevent visa abuse and improve national security. “For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely,” the agency said, adding that the current system poses risks and financial burdens.
The proposal has reportedly elicited reactions from the U.S. higher education sector. Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, said the rule would create “unnecessary burdens” for students and institutions.
“The rule would force international students and scholars to regularly submit additional applications, disrupting their studies and straining university operations,” she warned, adding that the uncertainty could deter global talent from choosing the U.S. for education and research.
Journalists also stand to lose under the proposed changes. In the past, reporters from certain countries have received visas valid for up to five years, a benefit that would end under the new rule.
