US sharply reduces visa duration for foreign journalists
The US Department of Homeland Security has announced a reduction in visa validity for foreign journalists from five years to 240 days, and to 90 days for Chinese journalists. The new rule abolishes the 'duration of status' system and will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The Trump administration has announced drastic cuts to the duration of visas for foreign journalists in the United States. Under the new rule, issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), visas for foreign journalists will be valid for only 240 days, down from the previous five years. For Chinese journalists, the limit is set at 90 days. The change eliminates the so-called 'duration of status' system, which allowed foreign journalists to stay and work in the US as long as they met eligibility requirements.
The new rules also affect foreign students and exchange visitors, who, according to the government, had been allowed to remain indefinitely without routine oversight. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the 'outdated duration of status system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud.' He added that 'for decades, foreign students have been admitted into the US indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse our immigration system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the US.'
By implementing 'clear, finite limits' on visas, Mullin said the US 'is reclaiming its ability to properly screen, vet and monitor individuals within our borders.' However, advocacy groups for foreign journalists have strongly opposed the change. Reporters with Borders called the decision 'cruel,' saying they are 'outraged that the Trump administration has cruelly limited the duration of visas for foreign journalists from a period of up to five years to a fixed eight months.' The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released a statement calling the new visa policy 'the behavior of a backsliding democracy, not the international vanguard of free speech.'
While foreign journalists are not considered immigrants and visas can be extended, CPJ warned that a 'relentless cycle of visa renewals restricts press freedom, as journalists will feel compelled to avoid drawing the administration's ire, lest their applications be rejected.'
The decision comes as President Donald Trump targets news organizations with multiple threats and legal actions at home, while his administration tightens immigration policies. The new system will take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. China's foreign ministry has already condemned the move as 'discriminatory' and said it 'reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures.' Spokesperson Lin Jian urged the US to 'immediately revoke its discriminatory policies targeting Chinese journalists and effectively safeguard their lawful rights and interests in the US.'
