Trump administration proposes restrictions to initial admission period for student and media visas

Washington: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in line with the Trump administration’s progressive restrictions on visas, proposed a rule on Thursday limiting the length of initial admission for foreign media (I visas), students (F visas) and exchange visitors (J visas).

These three categories of visas that currently function under the “duration of status” and the new rule proposes fastened duration and extension periods.

It was noted to the concerns about the abuse of the existing liberal visa program and the increased risk of national security.

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At present, the above categories visa holders are allowed to stay in the US for a period of the admission requirements are met. Under the proposed new rule, F and J students would be admitted for an initial period of only four years.

However, the length of stay will be two years for nationals of countries with a visa exceedance rate greater than 10% and non-US citizens born or having the nationality of a country on the list of sponsoring states of terrorism.

Already admitted F and J students will have their “Status Duration” period converted to a term ending at the end of their program (not to exceed four years) if and when the proposed DHS rule becomes final.

“The significant growth of the F, J and I visa programs has necessitated this proposed update to ensure the integrity of the U.S. immigration system, but this rule does not propose changes to the underlying requirements to qualify for these non-immigrant classifications,” a DHS press statement said.

According to the statement,  holders of a visa for foreign media will initially be admitted for a period not exceeding 240 days with the possibility of extending their stay for a maximum of 240 days depending on the duration of the activities concerned.