By Rafiyat Sadiq
The United States government has announced plans to shorten the validity period of visas issued to foreign students and journalists.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the proposed rule is intended to tighten oversight and reduce what it described as risks associated with prolonged stays.
The new visa restriction comes barely 10 days after the U.S. further tightened visa vetting by requiring applicants to disclose all social media handles used over the past five years. Failure to comply could result in visa denial and difficulty obtaining visas in the future.
And almost 2 months after the United States slashed visa validity for Nigerians from five years to a three-month, single-entry permit on July 8, 2025.
The U.S. Embassy explained this measure as part of the ongoing global visa reciprocity review aimed at addressing overstays and enhancing security standards
Even as the federal government, in a swift reaction, said it would reciprocate the new US visa policy with equal measures, what Nigeria saw was even a stricter visa condition.
Under the new plan, F visas for international students will be capped at a maximum of four years. At present, such visas typically cover the full length of an academic programme, which, in the case of doctoral studies, can run for more than five years.
For foreign media professionals, visa validity will be limited to 240 days, with the possibility of a single extension for another 240 days.
However, journalists’ visas will not exceed the duration of their specific assignments. Any extension would require filing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), prompting additional security vetting.
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In the past, correspondents from countries including Germany have received visas valid for as long as five years.
The DHS argued that the current system has allowed some categories of visa holders to remain in the U.S. “virtually indefinitely”, a situation it said carries both security and financial risks while disadvantaging citizens.
The agency said the measure is aimed at preventing visa abuse and improving monitoring of foreign nationals.
The proposal has already drawn sharp criticism from the American higher education community. Miriam Feldblum, president of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, warned that the changes would impose fresh burdens on both students and universities.
She noted that requiring international students and scholars to submit repeated applications could disrupt academic work and create uncertainty that may discourage global talent from pursuing studies or research in the U.S.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
