The United States government is considering a new policy that would significantly shorten the length of stay for foreign students and journalists.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the proposal is aimed at tackling visa abuse and improving its ability to properly vet visitors.
If approved, the measure would replace the existing duration of status system, under which international students can remain in the country as long as they stay enrolled with a fixed four-year visa cap.
DHS noted that the current arrangement has allowed some foreign students to exploit the system, effectively becoming forever students to prolong their stay.
It said, “For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amount of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens.”
“This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S., easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history.”
Under the same proposal, foreign journalists on I visas would face an initial 240-day stay. They could apply for an extension of up to another 240 days, but the total duration would not exceed the length of their assignment.
Previously, journalists were allowed to stay for as long as their qualifying work lasted, without a fixed maximum duration.
According to DHS, the change would strengthen oversight by giving the government greater access to relevant information and reducing the number of individuals staying in the country on extended visas.
The rule was first introduced during Donald Trump’s presidency in 2020 but later scrapped by the Biden administration in 2021.
