Homeland Security to cut foreign journalist visas to 240 days, limit Chinese reporters to 90 days

The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it will sharply reduce the maximum length of stay for foreign journalist visas in the United States, setting a cap of 240 days for most foreign journalists and limiting journalists from China to 90 days. DHS framed the changes as a way to strengthen visa oversight and ensure that journalism-related travel stays aligned with U.S. immigration and national security priorities.

According to The Washington Times, the new limits represent a major departure from the practice of granting visas that could be issued for substantially longer periods. The reported policy applies to foreign reporters and other members of the press seeking entry under journalist-related categories, and it is intended to shorten the time before authorities require journalists to reapply or otherwise renew their status.

DHS’s announcement also singled out Chinese journalists, according to the report, with a separate and shorter 90-day maximum. The policy difference, the report said, has heightened scrutiny and concern from advocates of press freedom and from media organizations that track visa access for foreign correspondents.

Media rights advocates and press groups have argued that shorter and more restrictive visa timelines can make it harder for foreign journalists to complete reporting cycles, maintain uninterrupted coverage, and respond to fast-moving events. They also warned that visa restrictions aimed at particular countries could contribute to reciprocal treatment of U.S. journalists abroad.

The Biden administration is not central to the reported timeline, and the announcement is attributed to the Trump administration’s DHS changes. The Washington Times report said the decision was made public on Thursday, indicating the policy could affect journalists’ planning and travel schedules immediately, particularly for those already in the process of renewing credentials or coordinating interviews and on-site investigations.

DHS did not, in the reported account, lay out specific operational details such as a point-by-point standard for approvals, how quickly visas would be reissued under the revised caps, or what steps journalists would need to take if their travel plans exceed the new limits. The report also did not describe any transition for journalists who already hold visas under the older terms.

The policy’s practical effect will depend on how quickly DHS and partner agencies implement the new caps at ports of entry and within the visa adjudication process, including how the changes interact with other immigration rules for reporters and the circumstances under which extensions or renewals may be granted. Journalists and media organizations are expected to seek clarification on the scope of the changes, including whether the shorter timelines apply to all press travel or only to certain visa classes.