The United States government has unveiled a new visa policy that will impose fixed periods of stay on Nigerian and other foreign students, exchange visitors and international journalists, in a move aimed at tightening immigration controls.
The new regulation, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is expected to take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, placing implementation around September 2026, subject to congressional review.
Under the policy, holders of F-1 student visas and J-1 exchange visitor visas will be admitted for a maximum of four years, replacing the long-standing system that allowed them to remain in the country for the duration of their academic programmes or exchange activities.
The new rule also affects foreign journalists on I visas, limiting their stay to no more than 240 days. Journalists from China will face an even shorter maximum stay of 90 days.
According to the DHS, affected visa holders may apply for extensions if they require additional time to complete their studies, exchange programmes or professional assignments.
The department said the policy was introduced in response to the rising number of non-immigrant admissions, which it said has made monitoring visa compliance increasingly challenging.
Official figures show that the United States recorded more than 1.8 million student visa admissions in 2024, representing an 11 per cent increase over the previous year.
During the same fiscal year, the country also admitted more than 500,000 exchange visitors and issued visas to over 37,000 foreign media professionals.
The latest measure is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration agenda since returning to office in January 2025, with his administration implementing stricter oversight of both legal and illegal immigration.
In recent months, the administration has intensified scrutiny of international students, revoked some student visas and green cards, and introduced tighter immigration enforcement measures across multiple visa categories.
