The Department of Homeland Security has declared that the US government intends to reduce the duration of validity of visas for foreign journalists and students.
F visas, which permit international students to study in the United States, would be limited to a maximum of four years under the new regulation.
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At the moment, students are given visas for the duration of their academic programs, which for PhD degrees, can last longer than five years.
The News Agency of Nigeria said on Thursday that the visa period for foreign media workers would be restricted to 240 days, with the possibility of an additional 240-day extension.
Journalists’ visas, however, could not be extended beyond the length of their assignments.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) applications would be necessary for any extensions, which would result in additional security checks.
Previously, journalists from nations such as Germany were granted visas that were valid for a maximum of five years.
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The DHS said that previous administrations have permitted foreign students and other visa holders to stay in the US for almost limitless periods of time, posing financial and security dangers as well as potentially harming US citizens.
The proposed modifications were intended to improve monitoring and stop visa abuse.
However, the US higher education establishment quickly criticized the proposal.
What Does This Mean for International Students in the US?
The proposed regulations would place needless obligations on students and institutions, according to Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.
“The regulation would compel scholars and international students to submit extra applications on a regular basis, interfering with their studies and putting a burden on university operations,” Feldblum stated.
She went on to say that the unpredictability would discourage talented foreigners from pursuing their studies and research in the US.
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