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New visa rules limit foreign journalists to 240-day stays in the US

🇺🇸 United StatesWork Permits1 recorded versionLast change 11 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 90%

Current rules

The final rule replaces D/S admission for I nonimmigrants with a fixed admission period. Foreign media representatives can generally be admitted for up to 240 days, with extensions available when their qualifying activities continue. For I-visa holders presenting a PRC passport other than Hong Kong or Macau, the maximum period is 90 days. If an I-visa holder timely files an extension application, they may generally continue qualifying activities while the application is pending, subject to the rule's specific limits.

Overview

The U.S. has introduced new visa rules that restrict foreign journalists to a maximum stay of 240 days. This policy adjustment affects international media professionals working within the country. The change signifies a shift in the duration allowed for journalistic assignments.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Foreign journalists
  • Foreign correspondents
  • Representatives of foreign information media
  • Foreign news organisations with U.S.-based journalists
  • Mainland Chinese journalists holding PRC passports
  • Journalists with assignments lasting more than 240 days

What changed in the latest version

Before

I-visa foreign media representatives were generally admitted for duration of status (D/S), meaning their authorised stay was tied to their qualifying journalism activity rather than a standard fixed number of days. There was therefore no general 240-day admission ceiling requiring journalists to routinely seek an extension simply because 240 days had passed.

After

The final rule replaces D/S admission for I nonimmigrants with a fixed admission period. Foreign media representatives can generally be admitted for up to 240 days, with extensions available when their qualifying activities continue. For I-visa holders presenting a PRC passport other than Hong Kong or Macau, the maximum period is 90 days. If an I-visa holder timely files an extension application, they may generally continue qualifying activities while the application is pending, subject to the rule's specific limits.

This change means foreign journalists can no longer rely on an open-ended period of stay as long as they continue their media assignment. Instead, they will need to keep track of a fixed immigration deadline and apply for extensions when necessary. This creates extra administrative work for both journalists and their employers. The shorter 90-day limit for journalists from mainland China is particularly important because it treats them very differently based on their nationality.

Explained simply

Imagine you're a reporter from another country who comes to the U.S. to cover stories. Before, you might have been able to stay for a really long time, but now, there's a new rule that says you can only stay for about eight months (240 days). After that, you have to leave. It means foreign reporters can't stay as long as they used to.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v5Effective 15 Sept 2026EffectiveMedium impact
    New visa rules limit foreign journalists to 240-day stays in the US

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security finalised a rule changing admission periods for I-visa holders (foreign journalists and representatives of foreign information media). Instead of being admitted for “duration of status,” most I-visa holders will receive a fixed admission period of up to 240 days; journalists holding a passport issued by the People's Republic of China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau, are subject to a 90-day maximum. Extensions can be requested through USCIS.

Other routes in this country

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