US to toughen up visa regulations for Chinese journalists, foreign students

The White House moved on Thursday to tighten visa rules for foreign students, media and those on exchange programmes, including stricter limits on Chinese journalists, in the latest push by a government increasingly focused on cracking down on both legal and illegal immigration.

In one of the most sweeping changes to these visa categories in decades, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule establishing fixed periods of admission for F student, J exchange visitor, and I media visa classes.

The administration of US President Donald Trump argues that the changes will combat visa fraud and strengthen national security, even as legal experts warn they could harm the nation’s economy and innovation.

In the Thursday statement, DHS said it was eliminating what it called a “duration of status loophole” that allowed these visa classes to “remain in the United States indefinitely without routine government oversight”.

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The prior approach, introduced decades ago, meant holders of F, J and I visas were admitted for the duration of the approved programme or assignment, rather than a shorter fixed period, leaving their entry records without an explicit expiration date.