US govt announces changes to visa for Nigerians from September 2026
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed new time limits on F, J, and I visas for international students, exchange visitors, and journalists. The policy, part of a broader immigration crackdown, would limit student stays to four years and foreign media stays to 240 days.
Why it matters
This policy shift significantly impacts international academic and media relations, potentially complicating long-term research and reporting projects in the US.
The US Department of Homeland Security, DHS, has introduced a new rule that would impose fixed time limits on visas for Nigerian and other international students, exchange visitors and foreign journalists. This is another step in President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown. In a government notice published on July 16, the rule would replace the current system that allows holders of F visas for students, J visas for cultural exchange participants and I visas for foreign media to remain in the United States for the duration of their academic programme or employment.
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