Foreign students and journalists will now get fixed-term visas, not 'duration of status'

The US Department of Homeland Security proposes changing how it admits foreign academic students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives. Instead of being allowed to stay as long as they comply with their visa terms, these groups will now receive visas for a specific, fixed time period.

For decades, foreign students and journalists could stay in the US as long as they followed their visa rules. This 'duration of status' meant they did not have a hard end date, which offered flexibility but also uncertainty. The proposed change means these individuals will now have a clear expiration date on their visas, requiring them to apply for an extension if they need more time.