US visa proposal: 4-year student visas, 240-day limit for foreign journalists
Washington D.C.: The Trump administration has recently unveiled a proposal to restrict the duration of visas for international students, cultural exchange visitors, and foreign journalists, in a bid to curb visa abuse and strengthen immigration controls.
The proposed rule seeks to replace the existing “duration of status” system, in place since 1978, with fixed visa terms.
"For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the US virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging US citizens," a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson said, adding that this proposed rule would close those loopholes by limiting how long certain visa holders can stay.
The Trump administration says that the changes will prevent abuses such as “forever students” who remain enrolled to prolong their stay.
Under the new framework, student and exchange visas would be capped at four years, while foreign journalists (I visas) would be limited to 240 days, with options for extension. Meanwhile, Chinese nationals holding journalist visas would be subject to an even stricter limit of 90 days.
Visa holders wishing to remain in the country beyond the fixed term would need to apply for an extension through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), enabling DHS to conduct additional reviews of their status and activities.
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Minor girl kidnapped and raped; main accused and two cafe owners held
Latur (PTI): A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by an 18-year-old man in Latur, leading to the arrest of the main accused and owners of two cafes where the crime occurred on December 4, police said on Saturday.
Police traced the girl within hours of registering the complaint. The accused, identified as Rihan Gulab Shaikh, was arrested based on the girl's complaint. Two others are owners of two cafes where the crime occurred, police said.
Police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), POCSO Act, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, an official said.
