1.Accreditation of English language training
programs
(a)Section 101(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended—
(1)in paragraph (15)(F)(i), by striking
a language
and inserting an accredited language
;
and
(2)by adding at the end the following:
(52)The term accredited language training
program means a language training program that is accredited by an
accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of
Education.
.
(b)
(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
amendments made by subsection (a) shall—
(A)take effect on the date that is 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(B)apply with respect to applications for a
nonimmigrant visa under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i)) that are filed on or after the
effective date described in subparagraph (A).
(2)
(A)Notwithstanding section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by subsection (a), during the
3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, an alien
seeking to enter the United States to pursue a course of study at a language
training program that has been certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security
and has not been accredited or denied accreditation by an entity described in
section 101(a)(52) of such Act may be granted a nonimmigrant visa under such
section 101(a)(15)(F)(i).
(B)An alien may not be granted a nonimmigrant
visa under subparagraph (A) if the sponsoring institution of the language
training program to which the alien seeks to enroll does not—
(i)submit an application for the accreditation
of such program to a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the
Secretary of Education within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act; and
(ii)comply with the applicable accrediting
requirements of such agency.
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Vice President of the United States and President of the
Senate