DHS proposes four-year cap for F/J visas and eight-month I visa stays

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule that would limit the length of stay for several nonimmigrant visa categories, including international students, cultural exchange visitors and foreign media representatives. Under the proposal filed in the Federal Register, F and J visas would be capped at four years, while I visas for members of the media would be limited to 240 days in most cases and to 90 days for holders of passports from mainland China and Hong Kong. The administration said visa holders could seek extensions, and the public will have a 30-day window to submit comments.

DHS described the move as an effort to improve oversight of nonimmigrant visa holders and to prevent lengthy overstays. A DHS spokesperson said, "For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens." The agency also noted a substantial increase in the number of people in these categories over recent decades, arguing that fixed-term limits would make monitoring more effective.