118 HR 5127 IH: Visitor Visa Wait Time Reduction Act U.S. House of Representatives 2023-08-01 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 118th CONGRESS1st Session H. R. 5127 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 1, 2023 Ms. Salazar (for herself, Mrs. Lee of Nevada, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Swalwell, Ms. Titus, Ms. Norton, Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mrs. Radewagen, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Case, Mr. Carson, Mr. Trone, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mrs. González-Colón, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Ms. Mace, Mr. Webster of Florida, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To reduce appointment wait times for certain nonimmigrant visas known as visitor visas, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Visitor Visa Wait Time Reduction Act.

2.

Report and reassignment of personnel for excessive visitor visa wait times

(a)

Report required

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that includes— (1)a list of each diplomatic and consular post at which the average waiting period, beginning on the date an individual submits an application for a nonimmigrant visa under section 101(a)(15)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101) (commonly referred to as a visitor visa) and the date such individual is granted an interview for such a visa, exceeds 100 days; and (2)an explanation of the concrete steps taken at each such post in order to reduce such average waiting period. (b)

Reassignment of personnel

With respect to any diplomatic or consular posts at which the average waiting period described in subsection (a)(1) exceeds 300 days, the Secretary of State shall, as appropriate, temporarily reassign appropriate personnel of the Department of State to directly assist consular staff at such posts in order to reduce such average waiting period.