The US government announced on July 17, 2026, that visas for foreign journalists will be shortened drastically from five years to 240 days, while Chinese journalists’ visas will be limited to 90 days. The new rules take effect 60 days after their publication in the Federal Register, around mid-September 2026, under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
End of “Duration of Status” System Targets Immigration Fraud
The DHS has terminated the longstanding “duration of status” visa system, which allowed foreign journalists and others to remain in the US indefinitely as long as they met eligibility requirements. According to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the system existed for
nearly 50 years and compromised national security while enabling immigration fraud.
Mullin stated, “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.” He added the new policy “reclaims the ability to properly screen, vet and monitor individuals within our borders.”
China Condemns Policy and Warns of Retaliation
China’s foreign ministry swiftly responded to the visa restrictions, calling the policy discriminatory and threatening reciprocal countermeasures. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “China urges the US to immediately revoke its discriminatory policies targeting Chinese journalists and effectively safeguard
their lawful rights and interests in the US.”
Lin Jian also said China “reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures” following the announcement.
Press Freedom Advocates Criticize Visa Reductions
Media watchdogs expressed strong opposition to the restrictions. Reporters Without Borders condemned the reduction from five years to eight months as “cruel,” stating, “We 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 described the policy as “the behavior of a backsliding democracy, not the international vanguard of free speech.” It warned
that frequent visa renewals will inhibit press freedom by compelling journalists to self-censor to avoid visa denials.
Wider US Immigration Control Measures Under Trump Administration
The visa revisions are part of broader immigration policy tightening by the Trump administration, which has targeted media outlets with legal actions and threats domestically. These changes will require foreign journalists, including students and exchange visitors, to renew visas more frequently, reducing their ability to remain long-term in the US.
Chinese journalists face especially stringent restrictions with a 90-day limit, reviving a policy first introduced in 2020 and dropped by the Biden administration. The measures underscore continued efforts by the US government to
tighten surveillance and control over foreign nationals within its borders.
