VISIT USA Act
Latest action · Nov 21, 2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedNov 3, 2011
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Visa Improvements to Stimulate International Tourism to the United States of America Act or the VISIT USA Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide qualifying nationals of China (PRC) with a five-year multiple entry/exit visitor visa. Requires such persons to be screened through the automated electronic travel authorization system.
Transfers authority to establish and collect the premium fee for employment-based petitions and applications from the Attorney General (DOJ) to the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS).
Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) offer for a fee premium visitor visa processing; (2) develop, subject to security concerns, a pilot program for processing visitor visas using secure remote videoconferencing technology to conduct visa interviews; and (3) decrease nonimmigrant visa application and issuance fees in selected countries when there is a low demand from such countries for visitor visas.
Establishes a W (nonimmigrant)-visa for: (1) a Canadian citizen who is older than 50 years of age and owns a U.S. residence or has rented a U.S. accommodation for the duration of his or her stay; and (2) such alien's accompanying spouse and children. Makes such visa renewable every three years with a maximum stay of 240 consecutive days in each authorized period.
Revises the visa waiver program to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate any country as a program country; (2) adjust visa refusal rate criteria, including addition of a 3% maximum overstay rate; and (3) revise probationary and termination provisions.
Establishes an X (nonimmigrant)-visa for: (1) an alien who invests (and maintains) at least $500,000 in U.S. residential real estate, of which at least $250,000 must be for a U.S. primary residence where such person will reside for more than 180 days per year; and (2) such alien's accompanying spouse and children. Makes such visa renewable every three years.
Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to include in the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network individuals who meet security requirements and are employed and sponsored by an international organization which maintains a strong working relationship with the United States.
Cosponsors 10
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Nov 3, 2011 to Jun 26, 2012, with 1 there on the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-CA | David Dreier | Original | Nov 3, 2011 |
| D-NV | Shelley Berkley | Nov 18, 2011 | |
| D-CA | Sam Farr | Feb 7, 2012 | |
| D-HI | Colleen Hanabusa | Mar 19, 2012 | |
| D-OR | Earl Blumenauer | Mar 19, 2012 | |
| R-IL | Randy Hultgren | Mar 28, 2012 | |
| D-CA | Grace F. Napolitano | Jun 1, 2012 | |
| D-NC | G. K. Butterfield | Jun 6, 2012 | |
| R-CA | Mary Bono | Jun 6, 2012 | |
| D-CT | James A. Himes | Jun 26, 2012 |
Actions 5
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Nov 21, 2011Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
- Nov 15, 2011Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
- Nov 3, 2011Introduced in House
- Nov 3, 2011Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Nov 3, 2011Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2007-2008)
Related bills 2
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 1746 | VISIT USA Act | Identical bill | Oct 20, 2011 |
| S 2233 | JOLT Act | Related bill | Mar 27, 2012 |
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Immigration.
- Asia
- Border security and unlawful immigration
- Canada
- China
- Congressional oversight
- Housing finance and home ownership
- Immigration
- International organizations and cooperation
- Internet and video services
- Internet, web applications, social media
- Terrorism
- Travel and tourism
- User charges and fees
- Visas and passports
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Nov 3, 2011Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.
