US caps visa duration for students & journalists in major policy shift | Fusion - WeRIndia

The United States has once again revised its visa policy, affecting international students, journalists, and cultural exchange visitors.

This move comes amid ongoing trade tensions and diplomatic complexities with countries like India and China.

Under the new proposal, the US administration has capped visa durations for certain categories.

Student and cultural exchange visas (F and J types) will now be limited to a maximum of four years.

Journalist visas (I type) will have a much shorter validity of only 240 days. The change reverses the earlier policy where visas remained valid for the full duration of study or employment.

Instead, a fixed time limit will apply regardless of program length. Officials claim this will allow better monitoring and reduce visa overstays.

Chinese nationals face even stricter rules under the proposal. Their visas may be limited to just 90 days.

This decision has already drawn criticism from Beijing, labelling it discriminatory and politically motivated.

For Indian students, who form one of the largest international student groups in the US, this change brings uncertainty.

Many Indian students pursue longer programs, often extending beyond four years.

Shorter visa terms could lead to more paperwork, delays, and increased costs, possibly deterring applicants.

In 2024 alone, the US hosted approximately 1.6 million international students, 3.55 lakh cultural exchange participants, and 13,000 journalists.

These numbers highlight the global interest in US education and opportunities. However, this policy shift could reduce those figures significantly.

The Trump administration had earlier introduced a similar rule in 2020. However, the Biden government rolled it back in 2021, citing its adverse effects.

Now, with the proposal back on the table, concerns over its long-term impact are rising again.

If implemented, students and professionals may have to renew their visas mid-program, adding administrative burdens and expenses.

For Indian families, this could mean additional costs of over ₹1 lakh per renewal, not including delays.

Though officials insist the rule enhances security, critics view it as an unnecessary hurdle.

The policy remains under review, and further announcements are expected in the coming months.

Image Credit: Iracha Tantiwongchaichan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usa_j1_visa.jpg