On July 17, 2026, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new visa regulations drastically reducing the duration foreign journalists may remain in the United States. The policy, effective 60 days after Federal Register publication in mid-July 2026, restricts visas for most foreign journalists to a maximum stay of 240 days, down from the previous five-year allowance. Chinese journalists face a sharper limitation, with visas cut to 90 days under the new rules.
Abolition of the ‘Duration of Status’ System
The new regulation ends the use of the ‘duration of status’ (D/S) system, which allowed foreign journalists, students, and exchange visitors to stay indefinitely in the
US provided they met eligibility conditions. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized the longstanding D/S system, saying, “For nearly half a century, the outdated ‘duration of status’ system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud.” Mullin also noted that foreign students had exploited the indefinite stay by “perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the US.” The new policy establishes fixed visa length limits designed to enhance the government’s ability to “properly screen, vet and monitor individuals within our borders.”
Criticism from Journalist Advocacy Groups and China
Journalist advocates reacted negatively to the policy. Reporters Without Borders condemned the administration for
cutting foreign journalist visa durations from up to five years to just eight months, saying in a statement, “We are outraged that the Trump administration has cruelly limited the duration of visas for foreign journalists.” The Committee to Protect Journalists characterized the move as “the behavior of a backsliding democracy, not the international vanguard of free speech.” The group warned that frequent visa renewals could pressure journalists to avoid reporting that might jeopardize visa approval.
China’s foreign ministry condemned the restrictions targeting Chinese media professionals. Spokesperson Lin Jian described the policy as discriminatory and urged the US to “immediately revoke
its discriminatory policies targeting Chinese journalists and effectively safeguard their lawful rights and interests in the US.” Lin added that China “reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures” in response to the visa curbs.
Rationale Provided by US Officials
DHS Secretary Mullin justified the changes by stating that the prior indefinite stay regime weakened national security and immigration integrity. He said, “For decades, foreign students have been admitted into the US indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse our immigration system.” The introduction of fixed visa terms enables better oversight and reduces the risk of immigration fraud. According to Mullin, the policy reflects a reclaiming of US
authority to “properly screen, vet and monitor individuals within our borders.”
The visa revision aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to tighten immigration policies. The administration has also escalated threats and legal actions targeting news organizations domestically. The 90-day visa limit for Chinese journalists recalls a 2020 Trump-era proposal that was dropped under the Biden administration but reinstated with the mid-2026 rule.
