Washington (Web Desk): The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed new regulations to limit the duration of stay for foreign students, journalists, and other specific visa categories.
Under the new proposal, the stay of individuals entering the U.S. on F visas (students) and media visas will be restricted to the duration of their official academic or professional activities.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, since 1978, students holding F visas have enjoyed the privilege of “unlimited stay,” allowing them to remain in the U.S. for extended periods even after completing their studies.
The department stated that this provision has sometimes resulted in harm to U.S. citizens and has been subject to misuse.
The new proposal limits the stay of foreign students to the length of their academic program, with a maximum duration set at four years.
Additionally, students and journalists will be required to undergo regular check-ins to continuously monitor their activities and legal status.
The department believes that implementing this policy will increase transparency within the immigration system and help prevent illegal stays.
It is noteworthy that a similar proposal was introduced in 2020 during President Donald Trump’s administration but was later rejected by President Joe Biden’s administration.
The proposal will first be opened for public comments before a final decision on its approval and implementation is made.