Visa UpdatesJul 17, 2026·2 min read

China threatens countermeasures after Trump Administration imposes visa limit on its journalists

Livemint – News

Jul 17, 2026

Summary

The Trump administration has announced sweeping changes to visa rules for foreign journalists working in the United States, significantly reducing the duration of their stay and drawing criticism from press freedom groups and China. Media advocacy groups argue that the restrictions could hinder press freedom by forcing journalists to navigate a cycle of visa renewals, making them cautious in their reporting to avoid rejection. The DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security) will eliminate the long-standing "duration of status" system, which allowed foreign journalists to remain in the US as long as they continued to meet visa eligibility requirements. Officials said the change would allow the government to conduct more frequent reviews of visa holders and ensure their activities remain consistent with visa conditions. The administration imposed an even stricter 90-day visa limit for journalists from mainland China. Beijing strongly condemned the new visa policy, calling it discriminatory and warning that it may respond with similar restrictions. RSF warned that the new system would force journalists into a constant cycle of visa renewals. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also condemned the policy, calling it "the behavior of a backsliding democracy, not the international vanguard of free speech." The visa changes come as President Donald Trump has intensified criticism of news organizations and pursued legal actions against several media outlets, while also tightening immigration rules. Although foreign journalists are not considered immigrants under US law, the administration has argued that shorter visa durations would improve oversight and allow authorities to regularly verify compliance with visa requirements. Stay updated with the latest Trending , India , World and US news.

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The DHS will eliminate the long-standing “duration of status” system, which allowed foreign journalists to remain in the US as long as they continued to meet visa eligibility requirements.

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Government to House panel: Sheikh Hasina not allowed to conduct political activities from India

In the wake of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent remarks that she might return to Bangladesh by the end of this year, the government has told a Parliamentary panel that the former Bangladesh PM is not permitted to conduct political activities from India. On Thursday, Bangladesh Law Minister M Asaduzzaman said that Hasina is likely to be arrested instantly on her return from India. The panel noted that while extending such humanitarian consideration, India has strictly adhered to the principle that no political activity is directed against any other country from our territory. In its latest report on the ‘Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship’, the Committee recommended that “the government should continue to uphold its principled and humanitarian approach… while ensuring that such situations are managed with due sensitivity”. The parliamentary committee also sought an early normalisation of visa processing for Bangladeshi nationals, expressing concern that reduced visa processing volumes for Bangladesh nationals harm public perception and bilateral ties. India resumed tourist visa services for Bangladeshi nationals on June 28, 2026, ending a two-year suspension that began in July 2024 following political unrest and security concerns. With the Ganga Water Treaty of 1996 between India and Bangladesh set to expire this year, the panel has urged the government to initiate discussions with Dhaka “without further delay”. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ...

The Erling Haaland boom: Norway’s ‘pop-up economy’ during the World Cup revealed in Visa data

Erling Haaland may have been the biggest star to come out of this World Cup as fans all over the world became enamored with the big Norwegian striker as he raced for the Golden Boot and added to his 72 million-plus social media followers with adventures featuring Birkin Bags , Katz’s Deli , and a certain taxidermied raccoon . But he also drove what Visa called a “pop-up economy.” The deepest World Cup run in Norwegian football history tracked closely with the Manchester City striker’s own path through the tournament, and it turns out the spending followed him off the field as much as it followed the team on it. The credit card provider disclosed to Fortune that transaction volumes inside Norway nearly doubled during the team’s matches, and by the later rounds, spending activity rose in more than 60 countries whenever Norway played. Visa measured the effect by comparing transaction volume in a 12-hour window around kickoff against a typical day in the same country before the tournament began. “This was one of the most impactful FIFA World Cup tournaments we’ve seen to date both on and off the pitch,” said Frank Cooper III, Visa’s chief marketing officer. He added that Visa was able to see “those economies emerge, move from city to city and connect millions of fans with the merchants and communities hosting the world’s biggest sporting event.” Like Erling Haaland’s magical mystery tour across the U.S. After Norway beat Brazil in the round of 16, Haaland and several teammates stopped at Wild Bill’s Western Store, a 40-year-old western wear shop in Dallas, where he bought hats, boots and a belt buckle. Dallas was also one of the host cities where Visa recorded some of the tournament’s sharpest spending spikes tied to specific matches. Visa’s data covers the full scope of the World Cup, a 39-day tournament with 104 matches, 48 teams and 16 host cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, drawing nearly 7 million spectators, and which FIFA President Gianni Infantino promised would deliver economic boons. Cross-border Visa transactions in host cities rose nearly 20% year-over-year, and tap-to-pay transactions climbed almost 12%. Fans from Colombia, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Brazil generated the highest cross-border spending.

How long will your Canadian student visa take? Here are updated times

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued updated visa processing times for several categories, signaling key timeline adjustments for Indian students seeking permits to study in the country. Study permit processing times for India currently run around 8 to 12 weeks for standard applications, according to IRCC data. Indian applicants for a work permit from outside Canada currently face a processing time of 9 weeks, according to IRCC, with the department prioritising applications tied to essential occupations in agriculture, agri-food processing and healthcare. Visitor visa applicants from outside Canada currently see a processing time of 21 days, while those applying from within Canada face a 29-day wait, IRCC said. IRCC said applicants living outside Canada and the US who apply through a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate should add three to four months to account for mailing time. With inputs from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ...

China threatens countermeasures after Trump Administration imposes visa limit on its journalists

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Government to House panel: Sheikh Hasina not allowed to conduct political activities from India

The Erling Haaland boom: Norway’s ‘pop-up economy’ during the World Cup revealed in Visa data

How long will your Canadian student visa take? Here are updated times