US scraps indefinite stay for students and journalists, new visa rules take effect September 2026

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a major overhaul of visa rules for international students, exchange visitors, and foreign journalists. The new rule, unveiled on Thursday, July 16, scraps the long-standing 'duration of status' system and replaces it with fixed admission periods for F, J, and I visa holders.

The changes will come into force 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, pending congressional review. If successful, implementation could start around September 2026. The rule is expected to affect thousands of Nigerians who travel to the US annually for university education, exchange programmes, and journalism assignments.

What changes for F and J visa holders

Under the revised framework, F visa holders (international students) and J visa holders (exchange programme participants) will be permitted to stay in the United States for a maximum of four years per admission. Anyone whose studies or exchange programme runs beyond that window must either secure an extension from DHS or depart the country and seek fresh admission.

Previously, both categories allowed holders to stay for the full duration of their academic programme or exchange engagement with no fixed end date attached to admission itself. Students enrolled in postgraduate or extended undergraduate programmes that run longer than four years will now need to plan for a formal extension or a return trip to restart their admission clock.

Tighter limits for foreign journalists

Foreign journalists on I visas will face tighter constraints. Their authorised stay will be capped at 240 days. Journalists from China will be restricted to just 90 days. Nigerian journalists on assignment in the United States will similarly need to renew their status more frequently if their posting stretches beyond the new validity window.

Previously, I visa holders could stay for the full duration of their media posting with no fixed end date attached to admission itself.

Why DHS is making the change

The new visa restrictions sit within President Donald Trump's broader immigration agenda, which has intensified since he returned to office in January 2025. His administration has moved to tighten oversight of legal immigration alongside enforcement against undocumented entry, including revoking certain student visas and scrutinising green card holders more closely.

DHS justified the latest rule by pointing to a surge in temporary visitor numbers. The department recorded more than 1.8 million student visa admissions in 2024, a rise of over 11% from the preceding year. It also issued visas to upwards of 500,000 exchange visitors and roughly 37,300 foreign media personnel during the same fiscal year. The department argued that the volume of non-immigrant admissions had made it increasingly difficult to monitor compliance with visa conditions, noting that some individuals had remained in the country for decades under the old system.

Going forward, anyone wishing to stay beyond their authorised period must either apply for a DHS extension or leave the United States and re-enter under a new admission.

What this means for Nigerians

The changes carry direct consequences for Nigerian students, exchange visitors, and journalists. Nigerian students on extended programmes will face additional planning and costs for extensions or re-entry. Nigerian journalists on long-term assignments will need to renew their status more frequently. The rule adds another layer of scrutiny to US travel for Nigerians already navigating a tightening visa environment. Earlier, the US Mission in Nigeria warned that using a B1/B2 visitor visa outside its approved scope could result in a permanent ban from obtaining future US visas.