The US administration plans to tighten restrictions on the length of time foreign students and media representatives can stay in the country, under rules unveiled Thursday.

Students, including exchange students, will be allowed to stay for 4 years, while the stay for foreign journalists will be limited to 240 days.

Both groups can apply for an extension without having to leave the country.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement: 'For decades, foreign students have been accepted into the United States indefinitely, allowing thousands of them to abuse our immigration system by continuously enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the US.'

The new rules are set to be officially published on Friday and will take effect after 60 days.

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Previously, the US accepted these groups without a specific time limit.

The three visa categories for students (F visa), exchange students (J visa), and journalists (I visa) had enjoyed exceptional status for years.

For journalists, this meant their status was considered unchanged as long as they performed the same job for the same employer. Students were officially allowed to stay in the country for the duration of their education.