KABUL (Pajhwok): The Trump administration has approved new regulations limiting the length of stay in the United States for foreign students, cultural exchange programme participants and foreign journalists.
According to Reuters, under the final regulations issued by the US Department of Homeland Security, holders of F visas for foreign students and J visas for exchange programme participants will, in most cases, be allowed to stay in the United States for a maximum of four years.
Foreign journalists holding I visas will generally be permitted to remain in the country for up to 240 days.
Reuters said the new rules also limit the stay of Chinese journalists to 90 days, although they may apply for an extension before their authorised stay expires. The restriction does not apply to journalists from Hong Kong and Macau.
Previously, foreign students, exchange programme participants and foreign journalists were admitted under the “Duration of Status” (D/S) system, which allowed them to remain in the United States as long as they continued to meet the conditions of their visas.
The Department of Homeland Security said assigning a fixed period of stay would strengthen oversight of visa holders and help prevent potential abuse of the US immigration system.
Under the new regulations, individuals who need additional time to complete their studies or continue their assignments must apply for an extension of their immigration status from within the United States.
Reuters said the changes could particularly affect doctoral students and graduates working under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, as they may also need to apply for extensions to continue their stay.
Several higher education institutions and press freedom advocacy groups have opposed the decision, according to the report.
Critics say the new restrictions could make it more difficult for US institutions to attract international students and create additional challenges for foreign journalists working in the country.
The regulations will take effect 60 days after their official publication in the US Federal Register.
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