[111th Congress Public Law 306]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]



[[Page 124 STAT. 3280]]

Public Law 111-306
111th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To require the accreditation of English language training programs, and 
        for other purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 14, 2010 -  [S. 1338]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ACCREDITATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--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) <<NOTE: Definition.>> 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) Effective <<NOTE: 8 USC 1101 note.>> Date.--
            (1) In general.--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) <<NOTE: Applicability.>> 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) Temporary exception.--
                    (A) In <<NOTE: Time period.>> general.--
                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) Additional requirement.--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) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> submit an application 
                      for the accreditation of such program to a 
                      regional or national accrediting agency recognized 
                      by the Secretary of Education within

[[Page 124 STAT. 3281]]

                      1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
                      Act; and
                          (ii) comply with the applicable accrediting 
                      requirements of such agency.

    Approved December 14, 2010.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1338:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010):
            Sept. 27, considered and passed Senate.
            Dec. 1, considered and passed House.

                                  <all>