U.S. tightens visa regulations for international students, exchange visitors and journalists

📌 Summary:

• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has tightened visa rules for foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists, ending a decades-old policy that let them stay indefinitely under "duration of status" without periodic government oversight
• The new rules establish a fixed period of admission for non-immigrant holders of F (students), J (exchange visitors) and I (media) visa classifications
• Large impact on Indians, who form one of the biggest cohorts of international students and exchange visitors in the U.S.; they will now face fixed stay limits and renewal/extension requirements
• Reflects a broader tightening of U.S. immigration policy affecting Indian diaspora, students and skilled-mobility flows
• Raises concerns over uncertainty and compliance burden for Indian students planning long-duration programmes