US dramatically shortening visas for foreign journalists

The Trump administration announced Thursday it will reduce the length of visas issued to foreign journalists working in the U.S., while imposing an even shorter limit on reporters from China.

The new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule replaced a long-standing “duration of status” system with fixed-term stays, drastically shortening visas to 240 days, while giving Chinese journalists an even stricter 90-day limit, though the visas may be extended.

The administration referred to the “duration of status” system as a “loophole” that “allowed foreign students, exchange visitors, and media representatives to remain in the United States indefinitely without routine government oversight.”

The rule is scheduled to take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

“The outdated ‘duration of........

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