Washington — The Trump administration has unveiled a proposal to sharply reduce the duration of visas for foreign students, cultural exchange participants, and international journalists, the latest step in its broader immigration crackdown.
Under the plan, student and cultural exchange visas would be capped at four years. Journalist visas, currently valid for as long as employment continues, would be cut to 90 days for Chinese nationals and 240 days for citizens of other countries. Visa holders would still be able to apply for extensions.
The United States issues F visas for students, J visas for cultural exchange participants, and I visas for journalists. Currently, their duration is tied to the length of academic programs or employment contracts, offering more flexibility.
China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the proposal as discriminatory, while the Trump administration defended it as a way to strengthen oversight and control of visa holders.
Since taking office in January, Trump has pursued an aggressive campaign against undocumented immigration. If implemented, the rule would eliminate flexible legal status and require visa holders to apply for extensions to remain in the country.
According to government data, the U.S. issued 1.6 million student visas, 355,000 cultural exchange visas, and 13,000 journalist visas during the 2023–24 fiscal year.
Public comments on the proposal will be accepted for 30 days. A similar measure was introduced near the end of Trump’s first term in 2020 but was dropped after opposition from NAFSA, an international education nonprofit. The Biden administration later scrapped it in 2021.
