The U.S. Department of State has announced changes in the
maximum permissible validity of several key visas for French
nationals traveling to the United States. The changes, which went
into effect in November 2019, reduce the maximum length of visas in
several student and work visa categories.
Impacted Visas
The most notable visas that are impacted are the E-1 treaty
trader visa, the E-2 treaty investor visa, the L-1 intracompany
transferee visa, and the F-1 student visa. The standard validity of
the E-1 and E-2 work visas for French nationals was reduced from 60
months to 25 months and the L-1 intracompany transferee and L-2
dependent visa from 60 months to 17 months. Similarly, F-1 student
visa validity was reduced from 60 months to 20 months. Visa
categories that did not change, despite earlier predictions,
include the H-1B and I visa validity, which remain at 60 months.
Also, while there was discussion of imposing additional fees on
French nationals seeking
