The US is set to make another major change to its visa system for visiting its country. The Trump administration is currently considering shortening the validity of F visas for students, J visas for cultural exchange visitors and I visas for journalists.
Under the new proposal, F and J visas will be valid for only four years. Meanwhile, I visas, which were previously valid for up to five years, will be shortened to 240 days or 90 days for Chinese nationals.
The Trump administration said the change in visa validity is needed to better “monitor and supervise” visa holders while they are in the US. The public has 30 days to comment on the proposed changes.
As a media practitioner, I hold a US visa valid for five years. Previously, I had to travel to the US up to five times a year for work. The application process is expensive. If the visa validity period is shortened to 240 days, it will be difficult for me to do my work. Applications take a week to be approved and interview slots have to be booked a month in advance.
It is very likely that the era of Malaysian media covering the United States will end due to bureaucratic red tape.
