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How Are the U.S. Visa Policies Affecting Individuals?

Hyuk An
9월 30일
3분 분량

Over the past few months, I came across several news articles about the U.S. tightening its visa policies. At first, I thought these policies only affected people who wanted to immigrate to the U.S. But after reading more articles about this issue, I realized that they could impact not only students studying abroad and tourists but also people who wanted to watch the World Cup in person.


Figure 1. A close-up of a U.S. visa inside a passport. Photo by adrian825, via Condé Nast Traveller Middle East.
Figure 1. A close-up of a U.S. visa inside a passport. Photo by adrian825, via Condé Nast Traveller Middle East.

According to the Reuters article published on July 16th, the Trump administration announced new regulations restricting the time international students, exchange visitors, and foreign journalists can stay in the U.S. without applying for extension. Per the new regulations, international students and exchange visitors can stay for at most four years depending on their education or program, and if more time is needed, they must apply for an extension. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security explained that the increasing number of foreign visitors made it difficult for them to manage and monitor their stays. However, the Federal Court temporarily stopped the regulations from proceeding, and the legal arguments surrounding them continue.


As an international student attending a community college in the U.S., I was very interested in this issue. Since I’m currently trying to transfer to a four year university, I know that college life doesn’t always go the way one plans. Some students might need extra semesters to complete their degrees, or they might change their academic plans during their studies. I

think that if international students need to undergo additional visa extension applications just to continue their studies, it will put much pressure on them.


The 2026 FIFA World Cup showed another aspect of the visa issue. According to the CNA article published on April 17, while countries like Haiti, Iran, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire participated in the World Cup, some of the fans from those countries couldn’t watch the games in person due to restrictions on entering the U.S. Even though special exceptions were granted to the players and their associates, fans weren’t given the same exceptions. The news article also introduced the story of SOny Sauveur, a Haiti-born restaurant owner in Brooklyn. He explained that fans simply want the opportunities to watch games played by their teams in person. It’s been decades since Haiti advanced in the World Cup games, but some of the fans couldn’t go to the U.S. to root for their national team.


After reading this article, I became more interested in the way restrictions applied than simply the fact that fans couldn’t watch the games in person. The U.S. government explained that entry restrictions were required when some countries lacked identity verification data and didn’t share enough information. If it’s due to such problems, then I can understand the strict entry requirements. Because players and regular fans have different reasons for visiting, I also don’t think the entry requirements should be the same. However, I wondered if applying broad restrictions based on nationality can properly take into account individual circumstances or actual risks. I am similarly concerned about the visa issue for international students.


Reading these articles changed how I view visa policies. I saw how a few regulations made in the U.S. can affect someone who has waited for decades to watch their national team play in the World Cup or an international student who is planning to finish their degree abroad. Although I’m not sure exactly how the visa regulations will impact my transfer plans, I think I will pay even closer attention to the issue.


Figure 2. U.S. travel restrictions affecting countries participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including Haiti, Iran, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. Graphic: The National, 2026.
Figure 2. U.S. travel restrictions affecting countries participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including Haiti, Iran, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. Graphic: The National, 2026.

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