US dramatically shortening visas for foreign journalists

Administration US dramatically shortening visas for foreign journalists Comments: by Finya Swai - 07/17/26 2:25 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Finya Swai - 07/17/26 2:25 PM ET Comments: Link copied

NOW PLAYING

The Trump administration announced Thursday it will reduce the length of visas issued to foreign journalists working in the U.S., while imposing an even shorter limit on reporters from China.

The new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule replaced a long-standing “duration of status” system with fixed-term stays, drastically shortening visas to 240 days, while giving Chinese journalists an even stricter 90-day limit, though the visas may be extended.

The administration referred to the “duration of status” system as a “loophole” that “allowed foreign students, exchange visitors, and media representatives to remain in the United States indefinitely without routine government oversight.”

The rule is scheduled to take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

“The outdated ‘duration of status’ system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.

The update marks a tougher approach toward Chinese media after prior restrictions had been rolled back by the Biden administration. During President Trump’s first term, the U.S. reduced visa durations for Chinese journalists to 90 days in response to Beijing’s treatment of American reporters.

This included China’s expulsion of journalists from three American news organizations and forbidding them from working in Hong Kong during heightened tensions over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Biden administration later expanded those visas to allow stays of up to one year.

China denounced the new rule, calling the policy “discriminatory” and arguing it would be disruptive to Chinese journalists working in the U.S.

“China urges the U.S. to immediately revoke its discriminatory policies targeting Chinese journalists and effectively safeguard their lawful rights and interests in the U.S.,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing in Beijing.

“China reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures,” he added.