DHS Caps Student and Journalist Visas at Four Years

The Department of Homeland Security finalized a rule on July 17, 2025, that limits F and J visa holders to the length of their academic program up to a maximum of four years and caps I visas for foreign journalists at 240 days, with a 90-day limit for Chinese nationals.

The rule shortens the period F visa holders have to depart or transfer after graduation from 60 days to 30 days. It will be published in the Federal Register within days and take effect 60 days later, potentially as soon as September 2025.

Mullin stated that thousands of foreign students have been allowed to remain in the U.S. indefinitely under their visas by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the U.S. He added that the rule ensures foreign students remain focused on completing their studies and returning home.

Under the new rule, F and J visa holders will be permitted to remain in the U.S. for the length of their program, but not longer than four years. If a student needs additional time to complete an academic program, they must apply for an extension on their visa through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The duration of I visas, for members of the media, will be capped at 240 days by the new rule, and 90 days for Chinese nationals. Under current rules, journalists' visas can last years.

The department received close to 22,000 public comments on the proposal issued in August 2025. The Embassy of Japan had urged longer admission periods of two to five years for correspondents, but DHS rejected those requests along with proposals for expedited processing and capped fees.

A similar rule was proposed at the end of the first Trump administration but was scrapped by the Biden administration. The new rule is subject to review by the Republican-led Congress. The United States admitted more than 1.1 million international students in the 2023-24 academic year, who contributed more than $50 billion to the economy in 2023.